Northwest China's Shaanxi Province will host the Eighth National Drama Festival in its capital city of Xi'an in September.
Artists from across China will stage over 20 Chinese dramas during the period from 10 to 15 September in Xi'an and in neighboring counties.
A biennial event, the festival has staged more than 160 excellent Chinese dramas since its inception in 1987, and has thus become the largest gathering for theater actors and audiences.
The Shaanxi Opera, the local opera of the province, is one of the oldest operas in the country.
Xi'an, with a history of more than 3,100 years, was the capital of several ancient Chinese dynasties and is home to many famous relics such as the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses.
(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2003)