The 2024 Guilin Arts Festival is scheduled to run from October 26 to November 3 in Guilin. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In a momentous event on Tuesday, the stage was set for the 2024 Guilin Festival and the debut of the esteemed "Ouyang Yuqian Drama Award" as the news conference unfolded at the Dongcheng Campus of the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing.

Scheduled to grace Guilin in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region from Oct 26 to Nov 3, the 2024 Guilin Festival will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Southwest Theater Exhibition under the resounding theme "Looking Back and Moving Forward". This year's festival will pay tribute to the trailblazing theatrical visionaries who played pivotal roles in China's triumph during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), drawing inspiration from historical valor to ignite a new cultural renaissance in the contemporary era.

Liu Xinglin, the artistic director of the Guilin Festival and a professor at the Central Academy of Drama, unveiled the festival's thematic essence and key initiatives during the news conference.

On Tuesday, the press conference for the 2024 Guilin Festival and the inaugural "Ouyang Yuqian Drama Award" call for entries was held at the Dongcheng Campus of the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Jin Dong, a member of the Guilin Festival Art Committee, spotlighted the distinctive elements characterizing the festival's diverse program segments.

Embracing the architectural blueprint laid down by Ouyang Yuqian upon the establishment of the Guangxi Provincial Art Museum, this year's Guilin Festival will feature specialized departments devoted to drama, fine arts, and music. With drama as its central pillar, complemented by the harmonious interplay of music and fine arts, the festival promises a holistic artistic experience.

The drama segment will showcase an array of domestic and international performances, alongside an enlightening arts lecture series, urban artistic endeavors, and initiatives aimed at nurturing the next generation of dramatists.

Jin Dong, a member of the Guilin Festival Art Committee, highlighted the unique features of the festival's various segments. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The music segment, themed "The Audible Guilin Scenery", will capture the natural symphonies of Guilin, while the fine arts segment will host three major exhibitions, including a captivating drama art exhibition and showcases highlighting the creative prowess of emerging talents from the Lijiang School of Painting.

Moreover, Guilin unveiled an enticing array of premium travel packages and discounted offers, encompassing tourist passes, bespoke scenic spot packages, and exclusive deals on local gastronomy, accommodations, and homestays. These initiatives are strategically crafted to beckon both domestic and international tourists and art aficionados to Guilin, promising a cultural odyssey brimming with artistic splendor and scenic delights.