According to Deng Gongli, deputy secretary-general of the Chengdu Municipal Government, a total of 32 groups of singers and dancers from Europe, Africa, America and Asia participated in the parade. The festival drew some 520 people from 52 countries around theworld.

Wednesday's parade was the China debut of the Roundabout Samba from Brazil, said Deng, who added the singers and performers will also perform in another eight venues in parks and squares in Chengdu and ancient towns in the suburbs.

May 23 also marked the formal opening of the Exposition of the International Festival of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Chengdu, China in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Park located in the city's Jinniu District.

With 80 halls, the Exposition will display more than 1,000 domestic and overseas intangible cultural heritage items from May 23 to June 10 with free admission. Deng said that folk artisans will display their work.

Muqam, a traditional performance of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Prefecture, can be seen in the Exposition.

Combining music, dance, singing and poetry, Muqam is on the List of the Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

"It will be the first time that Muqam makes its debut outside of Xinjiang," said Zhu Shuxi, chief of the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture.

He added that the famous Xiaoxiang Lion Dance would also be performed in the Exposition.

The dance, which has its origins in Xiaoxiang Village in Gongyi, Central China's Henan Province, has a history of more than 400 years and is likely to be performed at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Nearly 70 performers will show their stunts of climbing to the top of poles more than 10 meters high while dressed and dancing like lions.

Opera lovers will also have the rare opportunity to appreciate the Chuankun Opera in the Auditorium of the Sichuan Opera School Thursday and Friday evening because not many people have continued practicing this art form.

Performers from Sichuan and neighboring Chongqing Municipality will put on 10 classical plays of the Chuankun Opera, such as, "Stealing the Peach " and "Falling from the Horse."

With a history of 600 years, the Kunqu Opera, which is on the UNESCO's List of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage List, is referred to as the "ancestor of all operas" in China.

Sichuan Opera was developed during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), based on five local operas including the Kunqu Opera. The Chuankun Opera is a branch of the Kunqu Opera in Sichuan, Zhu said.

Editor:Liu Fang