Guilin, a city of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, is known for its splendid natural beauty, which makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

Its fame is reflected in a popular Chinese saying, proclaiming "Guilin's landscape is the best under heaven".

The city has now become a new destination for theater lovers with the inaugural Guilin Festival running from Dec 10 to 18.

It will stage 29 theatrical productions, indoor and outdoor, at 10 locations in Guilin. A total of 128 shows will be presented, as well as street performances.

"Guilin Festival will be held as an annual event. We will invite theatrical companies from around the world to perform in the festival. It will become a platform for global artists as well as serving as an opportunity to train young theater talent," says Yang Yanyan, head of the publicity department of Guilin, one of the organizers of the Guilin Festival.

She adds that, besides theatrical productions, the festival will also feature music and dance performances.