China's Ministry of Culture organized Tuesday evening a local drama gala at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The ministry assembled seven local dramas featuring rural life in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Jilin, Henan, Hebei and Shandong provinces into a special performance which was provided for drama experts and delegates to the annual cultural work conference.

From May to December 2000, the ministry arranged local dramatic arts groups to perform unique dramas at Beijing's theaters, which were well received by audience in the Chinese capital.

Sources said that this was a drive to help the local arts and treasured artistic forms flourish.

(People’s Daily 02/20/2001)