The opening concert for Meet in Beijing Photo: Courtesy of Mu Weng

Cultural events including concerts, dramas and dance performances are taking place in Beijing this month for the annual Meet in Beijing International Arts Festival. The festival kicked off on Monday at the National Centre for the Performing Arts with a concert staged by musicians from China and Japan. 

Throughout the rest of the month, the festival will stage more than 60 performances including the Chinese version of The Nutcracker by the National Ballet of China and theatrical works by Beijing People's Art Theatre as well as hold three art exhibitions. 

Elements representing the Winter Olympic Games will be added to the festival starting this year until 2022 in preparation for the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics. Japan is the guest country for this year's event since it will be hosting the Summer Olympic Games. 

Audiences will be able to appreciate a series of Japanese performances including the Agatsuma Hiromitsu Crossover Concert, Makoto Ozone Quartet Jazz Concert and Takarazuka Revue OG The Light of Sword and Love: The Women Who Loved Napoleon.