The 11th China International Folk Arts Festival has concluded in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The event was not only a stage for diverse art forms but also a platform for cultural communication among different countries and regions and civilizations.

More than 300 folk artists from 13 countries and regions from the Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and Europe showcased a diverse range of music, arts and dance. Foreign art troupes covered five continents and focused on countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative, such as Russia, Mongolia and Iran.

It's an essential platform for artists from home and abroad to exchange views and boost mutual understanding.

An audience member said: "What attracts me most is the music of the Dutch band. I feel joyful and want to interact with them. It's the first time I saw such a performance in Hohhot. I really want to go and jump with them."

Due to the growing influence of the art festival, more art groups have applied to take part. Young dancers from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, Taiwan and Hohhot have been specially invited to form a "young Chinese" street dance troupe.

This year, art troupes from Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and Ghana were invited for the first time. 

A dancer from Uzbekistan said: "This time, we performed dances of different styles from different parts of Uzbekistan. Art connects us together, just like the theme of the festival: the world is one family."

The China International Folk Arts Festival is organized by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Founded in 1990, it is held every three years. Since its inception, it has welcomed more than 3,000 foreign artists from 65 countries and regions to China.