Villagers create calligraphy art at the rural Spring Festival gala in Shangtian village, Banqiao town, Lin'an district, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Jan 17. [Photo/zj.zjol.com]

A rural Spring Festival gala hosted by the publicity department of Zhejiang and the Zhejiang Radio & TV Group was held in Shangtian village, Banqiao town, Lin'an district, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Jan 17, attracting more than 1,900 villagers.

The gala featured dozens of performances, including songs, dances, martial arts and operas, put on by villagers who came from throughout the province.

A martial arts and calligraphy show was given by residents from Shangtian village. The performers were aged between 12 and 67 years old.

"We're happy to promote our traditional culture to others," said Shen He, a 13-year-old martial arts performer.

In addition to performances, a series of interactive activities were held such as writing Spring Festival couplets.

Villagers display their farm tools at the rural Spring Festival gala in Shangtian village on Jan 17. [Photo/zj.zjol.com]

The provincial government launched a rural revitalization plan in 2018 to see cultural halls cover all its villages by 2022. In 2019, 3,282 rural cultural halls were built, increasing the total number to 14,341.

Villagers directed and performed the shows themselves in the rural cultural halls.

As the birthplace of the rural Spring Festival gala, the province has so far held 6,166 such galas.

Two villagers sing a song at the rural Spring Festival gala in Shangtian village on Jan 17. [Photo/zj.zjol.com]