The 16th Straits Forum and the 33rd Cross-Strait Guandi Culture and Tourism Festival opened in Dongshan, a coastal county in Zhangzhou, East China's Fujian province, on Tuesday, to celebrate the time-honored Guandi culture and foster cross-Strait exchanges.

Guandi refers to Guan Yu, a revered general from the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), admired for his courage and loyalty. The worship of Guan Yu is still prevalent throughout China today.

This year's festival attracted more than 1,500 people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The opening ceremony featured performances by opera masters from six different traditional opera forms, including Kunqu Opera, Peking Opera and Yuju Opera, who showcased classical excerpts that highlighted the heroic charm of Guan Yu.

The festival also includes 12 sideline activities, such as city walks and creative competitions for youth, which will run until early July.

The event is hosted by the Zhangzhou city government and co-organized by the Dongshan county government, Zhangzhou culture and tourism bureau, and Zhangzhou Culture, Tourism and Health Care Group.

Now in its 33rd year, the Guandi Culture and Tourism Festival attracts people from all walks of life to Dongshan for ancestor worship, travel and business investment. It has become a significant platform for enhancing cross-Strait exchanges in fields of economy, trade and culture.