Saint Petersburg Tchaikovsky Ballet members perform alongside dancers from the Shandong Bangzi Art Research Institute at Taishan Mountain. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Russia's Saint Petersburg Tchaikovsky Ballet recently performed alongside artists from the Shandong Bangzi Art Research Institute at Taishan Mountain, initiating a splendid fusion of ballet and Shandong traditional opera, opening a cross-border cultural dialogue.

During the welcoming ceremony, director of the Saint Petersburg Tchaikovsky Ballet expressed in her speech, "The profound cultural heritage of Taishan Mountain is awe-inspiring, and we hope to bridge the cultural exchange between our two countries through dance."

During the cultural experience session at Daimiao Temple, artists delved into the rich historical heritage of Taishan Mountain under the guidance and translation of tour guides.

With the participation of top international troupes, the cultural event further enhanced the global influence of Taishan Mountain's culture. The event was live-streamed by multiple media outlets and attracted numerous online viewers. The Saint Petersburg Tchaikovsky Ballet is representative of Russian classical ballet and has toured in over 30 countries. This trip to Tai'an marked their first in-depth interaction with China's intangible cultural heritage, presenting a cultural gift in the ongoing deepening of Sino-Russian relations.

Next, the Tai'an Cultural Arts Center will continue to activate the vitality of scenic areas through its "art plus" model, persistently carrying out a series of art empowerment activities to promote the high-quality integration of culture and tourism development.