Shanghai's Himalayas Center is hosting the city's first White Nights Festival, packed with 24-hour cultural events.

The original White Nights is an all-night festival staged in St. Petersburg, Russia, that's known for fireworks and carnivals.

It spread to other cities and transmitted from Paris to settlements around the globe.

During the annual Nuite Blanche, museums, parks and churches stay open for 24 hours so people can explore the city's charm from a nocturnal perspective.

Himalayas Center spokesperson Liu Lin says the center's 20-day festival will feature about 30 events.

Performances by hip-hop outfit PMC, African drum dances, band concerts and magic shows will be staged in the Himalayas Center's square. Nightfall will bring laser shows and film showings.

Patrons can camp overnight in the center's museum on June 23. They can also enjoy the new Insightful Charisma exhibition.

"This is the first time that the museum opens for the whole night," Liu says.

Exhibition curator Chen Xian says there will be classic pieces by such masters as Qi Baishi and Zhang Daqian, contemporary works by Zhang Qiushi and Yuan Shun, and a multimedia Kunqu Opera presentation.

"The art forms have been extended from traditional landscape paintings to include performance art and even multimedia," she says.

wuni@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/16/2013 page15)