The 2018 Yangtze River Culture and Art Festival will kick off in Zhangjiagang, East China's Jiangsu province on Oct 31.

A series of colorful cultural activities including folk art performances, traditional dramas and skit shows, as well as a magic show will hit the stages of Zhangjiagang, throughout its urban and rural areas.

This year's festival consists of the sixth International Humor Art Week, the eighth Zhangjiagang Yangtze River Drama Festival and various symposiums on Yangtze culture.

In addition, an e-commerce innovation and entrepreneurship competition and an investment and trade forum will also be held.

The sixth International Humor Art Week runs from Oct 31 to Nov 3 and includes six special shows with a total of more than 60 works from 20 varieties such as cross talk, Suzhou Pingtan, and sketch.

Zhangjiagang has hosted the festival since 2004. As an annual event, the festival aims to boost culture and art along the Yangtze River and provide local residents and visitors alike with a chance to gain a deeper understanding of Yangtze River culture.

Still of Shanghai Opera, Ode of Qingshan Mountain [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]