The 35th China Harbin Summer Music Festival kicked off at the Harbin Grand Theater in Harbin, capital of China's northernmost Heilongjiang province, on Sept 15.

The festival is jointly sponsored by the Harbin municipal government and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
 
The music festival has been held every year since its launch in 1961 and has become a national-level cultural event with influence both at home and abroad.

This year's festival has been extended from 15 days to three months, from September to late November.

The festival will consist of seven sections, including opening theatrical performances, national performances, mass cultural activities, a "Glory 100 Years" series of performances, and "East Asian Cultural Capital" city-specific performances and forums.
   
A performance is staged to celebrate the opening of the 35th China Harbin Summer Music Festival at the Harbin Grand Theater on Sept 15. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]