Gabrielle Goodman(middle), Tian Zhen(left) and Guo Yazhi(right) perform at the concert  The Sound of Berkeley in Xi'an, Sep 8.

The festival's opening exhibition, the International Art Exhibition-The Silk Road: China Impression was held on Sep 7 and runs through Sep 13. On display are 40 paintings created by over 50 artists from Arabian counties such as the United Arab Emirates, Algeria and Lebanon after touring China. The opening performance Music and Dance Show of Thindu India, directed by a top Chinese Indian music and dance director team, was held on Sep 7 and 8, and ended in thunderous applause.

Xi'an, the ancient city of Chang'an, is the starting point of ancient silk road. More than 2000 years ago, Zhang Qian, the imperial envoy of the Tang Dynasty, traveled to central Asia from Xi'an, opening up the important land route for trade and cultural exchange between East and West.

With the approval of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the annual Silk Road International Arts Festival will be held in Shaanxi ever since. The first festival was held in Shaanxi last September. This year, the festival runs till the 21st.