The opening ceremony for the 34th China Orchid Pavilion International Calligraphy Festival is held in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang province on April 18. [Photo/China Daily]

The 34th China Orchid Pavilion International Calligraphy Festival opened in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang province on April 18.

The festival includes the Sixth China Orchid Pavilion Calligraphy Awards –– the most prestigious awards for Chinese calligraphy.

The festival got its name from a gathering of 42 calligraphers at Orchid Pavilion during the East Jin Dynasty in 353 AD. The gathering led to the creation of Lanting Xu (Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion) –– the best-known work in the history of Chinese calligraphy.

Initially, the festival was a calligraphy activity used for memorizing the "Orchid Pavilion Preface" of calligrapher Wang Xizhi. But it has since become a platform to carry forward the art of calligraphy and promote Shaoxing's cultural attractions.

A series of activities such as exhibitions of the calligraphy works of the Sixth China Orchid Pavilion Awards, China Orchid Calligraphy Summit and exhibitions of the Shaoxing Calligraphy Contest will also be held during the festival.

Prize winners of the Sixth China Orchid Pavilion Calligraphy Awards pose for a group photo at an awards ceremony held in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang province on April 18. [Photo/China Daily]

Gao Shixiong, the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the China Orchid Pavilion Calligraphy Awards waves during an awards ceremony held in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang province on April 18. [Photo/China Daily]