Taipei, Jan. 21 (CNA) Tainan in southern Taiwan will kick off a six-day international drum festival Feb. 11 so that visitors to the historic city can enjoy an art-filled Lunar New Year holiday, the organizer said Monday.
The festival, to be held at the city's historic Eternal Golden Castle, will feature seven percussion groups from Taiwan, the United States, France, South Korea and Japan, according to Chou Ya-ching, deputy director of the Tainan city government's Cultural Affairs Bureau.
"Listening to a percussion performance at the Eternal Golden Castle, which used to be a fortress, will give visitors an entirely difference experience," Chou said.
Taiwanese Grammy-nominated Ten Drum Art Percussion Group, Japanese drumming groups Nobushi and Pan'a Paname Steel Band from France are among the groups scheduled to perform at the festival.
The performances will begin each afternoon and last into the night, Chou said, adding that the seven groups will hold joint performances in the opening and closing ceremonies Feb. 11 and 16, respectively.
Chou said she hopes the festival will promote Tainan as a cultural and arts city and boost tourism.
(By Christie Chen)