Yantai holds a citywide cultural event that encourages citizens to go outside, share their talents, and enjoy life. [Photo/WeChat account: yt_qyg]

A citywide cultural celebration was launched on March 29 on Chaoyang Street in Yantai, East China's Shandong province. The event will last for a year and include activities at 23 central squares across the city.

The opening ceremony featured lion dancers unfurling a banner reading "Dance of Mountains and Seas", officially marking the start of the event.

Chaoyang Street came alive with magicians, musicians playing erhu and violin, and a choir that sparked spontaneous sing-alongs. Fashion models strutted down the street while clowns sent kids running with balloons.

The highlight came when over 100 community performers took the stage for an original dance and music piece, turning spectators into participants. "The feeling of singing and dancing together was so wonderful — we had such a great weekend," said a college student.

A bustling market along the historic street featured 50 traditional crafts, including Laizhou calligraphy brushes, Yantai paper-cuts, and Jiaodong flower steamed buns. "We got to experience Yantai's heritage all in one place," said Sun Zhaoci, a tourist from Zhejiang province.

As one of Yantai's top 10 livelihood initiatives for 2026, the festival will offer weekly training and monthly performances across the 23 squares. Each square will have a dedicated "cultural facilitator" to organize activities and listen to residents' needs. The program aims to create cultural spaces, each with its own unique character, with larger celebrations planned for holidays including Labor Day and National Day.