Canada opens biggest Chinese cultural festival

Canadian Finance Minister Joe Oliver (4th R) and Chinese Ambassador to Canada Luo Zhaohui (3rd R) attend the opening ceremony of the China Now Festival at the Harbourfront center in Toronto, Canada, July 11, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

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People in Toronto will finally get to see a piece of China without hopping onto a plane as Canada's largest-ever celebration of Chinese arts and culture officially kicked off Friday evening.

The inaugural three-day China Now festival will be bringing roughly 100 multidisciplinary artists, over half of which are traveling from China, straight to Toronto's Harbourfront Center.

Luo Zhaohui, Chinese ambassador to Canada, was one of the many dignitaries who helped kick-off the festivities on Friday. With a wide range of performances like paper cutting, dumpling duels, kite-making and much more happening within the three days, Luo said Torontonians will get to see a very different side of China this weekend.

"Over 70 artists came here at the same time to perform. It's an important window to showcase Chinese culture and will help build the friendship between China and Canada," he said.

But making an event of this scale happen wasn't easy. Luo praised Harbourfront Center's efforts in helping to bring this unique experience to Canadians.

"Canada was very serious and detailed when organizing this event," he said. "They're very interested in Chinese history and also really appreciate it."