2008 is the 50th anniversary of the founding of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. There was a major celebration Thursday morning in the capital city, Nanning. Guangxi is looking back over half-a-century and looking to the future as one of the most ethnically diverse regions of China.

2008 is the 50th anniversary of the founding of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

A spectacle comprised of singing and dancing marked the high point of the celebration. About 4,500 performers expressed the diverse folk culture of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It was a performance that unfolded in five parts.

Singing is the most important means of artistic expression among the Zhuang people who comprise China's largest ethnic minority.