Lujiazui cultural festival lifts curtain

The orchestra performance is a highlight of the 14th Lujiazui Financial Culture Festival. [Photo/WeChat account: PUDONGTIMES]

The curtain rose on the 14th Lujiazui Financial Culture Festival on Nov 17 at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center.

Spanning more than a month, the festival includes a wide range of activities and competitions related to art, electronic and physical sports, and singing.

The sophisticated performance of the Lujiazui Financial City Orchestra wowed audiences at the opening ceremony. This year it also participated in Mozart's opera The Magic Flute for the first time.

Chorus, poetry recitation, and other groups took turns demonstrating their talent. They were all made up by white-collar workers in the Lujiazui Financial City.

"Lujiazui has become a hub for various high-level market players and elites," said Zhao Yunde, director of the comprehensive environment and cultural development department at the Lujiazui Bureau of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Administration Committee.

Meeting the spiritual and cultural needs of white-collar workers is important for enhancing the competitiveness and international influence of the financial city, Zhao stressed.

The cultural festival has launched more than 1,000 activities over the past 14 years, becoming one of the most influential cultural events in the area.