The highly anticipated world-class event for gardening arts and plant exhibition, the Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition, kicked off at the Gui Rui Performing Arts Center in Yanqing District, Beijing, on Sunday, with a grand opening gala featuring various classic music and dance performances from China and other countries.

Starting from 8: 30 p.m. (BJT), the gala opens with a children's chorus. Through their clear, pure voices, they expressed the public's longing for a beautiful home, which also reflects the theme of the Exhibition – "Live Green, Live Better." 

A performance of elegance and pastoral imagination called "The Fantastic Pasture" was presented by famed Chinese pianist Lang Lang, accompanied by ballet dancers from Beijing Dance Academy. With music adapted from Beethoven's "Pastoral Symphony," the performance described the poetic and picturesque landscapes in the fields in a gentle and merry melody.

Then came showtime for traditional Chinese instruments. In "Musical Charm of the East," four kind of instruments – Guzheng and Guqin, which are from the zither family, Pipa (Chinese lute),and Xiao (a kind of bamboo flute) – presented a concerted music unit adapted from classic Chinese songs “Flowing Water” and “Three Variations on the Plum Blossom."

On the wings of a dream, we can fly high. The gorgeous solo dance "Kingdom of Colorful Wings" conveyed an exotic enthusiasm to the audience. The accompanied music is composed and adapted by Wu Jun.

"Por Una Cabeza" is a tango song written in 1935 with music by Argentina composer Carlos Gardel and lyrics by Alfredo Le Pera.

The song was featured in a famous tango scene in Martin Brest's "Scent of a Woman" (1992), in the opening scene of Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List" (1993) and James Cameron's "True Lies" (1994).

The tango was performed by Argentinian dancer Leonardo Gaston Barrionuevo and U.S. dancer Miriam Mabel Larici.

The tap show, "Lord of the Dance," at the ceremony was brought by the Lord of the Dance Troupe of Ireland, Shijia Primary School, Beijing, Jilin City Song and Dance Troupe, and the music was by Irish composer Gerard Fahy.

"Lord of the Dance" is an Irish tap Dance performance. It was originally created by and starring Michael Ryan Flatley. The show premiered at the Point Theatre in Dublin on June 28, 1996.

"Lord of the Dance" is based on Irish folklore. The story depicts a struggle between good and evil. Michael Ryan Flatley put it on stage in the form of tap dancing. The dance attracted more than five million viewers worldwide with its passionate music and delightful tap rhythms.

The next performance featured African drums, and it brings together the grace and savagery of African drums.

‍The main feature of African drum performance is its music attribute, which can be widely used in special occasions, such as concerts, weddings, festivals and so on.

The functions and uses of drums are varied in Africa. In addition to being used for music, drums are sometimes used as symbols of nations, tribes or religions, or to convey various messages.

In "Ode to the Pear Blossom," a group of fan dancers dressed in Qipao-inspired costumes, with golden fans in hand, danced with a classic-styled beauty. The music accompanied them with the same name of the performance, a modern song with elements of Peking opera, depicted the famed love story of Li Longji, the Emperor Ming of Tang and Yang Yuhuan, his favorite concubine. 

The ambiance was continued by a Chinese traditional dance, named "Rainbow Bridge of Butterflies." The performance used the VR effect and presented hundreds of colorful butterflies flying high up the stage. The performance also featured some parts from the Peking opera, and other typical traditional dance like Feitian, or "Sky Spirits," a dance depicted on the fresco of Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu Province.

The Creative fashion Show combined solo dance and creative performances to bring beauty to the audiences. Each model wore clothes with floral elements. The exquisite fashion shows demonstrate the designers' control of fashion trends and show the new fashion perspective of flower elements. Also, it embodies the theme of the Horticultural Exhibition 2019.