The second Pingyao International Sculpture Festival, or Sculpture Projects Pingyao, opened Friday in the ancient city in north China's Shanxi Province where artists from home and abroad are displaying hundreds of their best works.

The festival's theme is "In Between" which aims to remind people of the differences and common ground between past and present, tradition and modernity and east and west.

"When you first arrive in Pingyao, you can see the traditional atmosphere is very strong," said chief festival curator Peng Feng, dean of the School of Arts at Peking University. "But the exhibition factory is very modern. The sculptures are also very modern. I hope the audience can experience the In Between, between the traditional and modern." 

Chinese installation artist Wu Daxin's creation of a pagoda is getting a lot of attention.

Wu explained, "I used western equipment to create an eastern pagoda. The spinning gears represent the oriental concept of time, which moves in circles. The spinning gears also symbolize the relationships among people in the whole society."

Chinese artist Guo Gong has brought his stainless sculpture of Qie-Wen, which means cut and ask in English.

"I take materials as a subject instead of an object," Guo said. "I try to read into it and have a conversation with it. My work is not about what I want to express but what the material itself wants to say. I’m just an interpreter of the material."

A colorful projector-like piece has attracted many onlookers. It's by Hong Kong artist Ruan Jiayi. The work reflects her childhood memories and the impact of the fast-developing city where she lives.

She is happy to join the event in Pingyao, "It's not like an art fair in Hong Kong where everyone is so busy setting up and everything is in a rush. Hong Kong is like a hustle and bustle place. But the pace in Pingyao is slower. Staying here is like meditation to me. I'm appreciating everything here."

The sculpture festival takes place against the backdrop of the ancient city of Pingyao. With a history of 2,800 years, Pingyao is one of the most well-preserved ancient cities in China. Aside from appreciating various works of art, visitors can also get a glimpse of the city's classic charms.

The event will run until the end of July.