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After pandemic-induced restrictions came to an end, a resurgence in the demand for high-quality cultural activities was evident among the people.
To address this need, China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a circular in March, which stipulated that regional cultural authorities were to resume the examination and approval of foreign-related commercial performances starting from March 20.
Foreign artists, largely absent in the preceding years due to the pandemic, were back on the stage across China with their performances.
Meanwhile, as cultural venues lifted crowd control measures, the public again felt the joy of appreciating performances with full venues of fellow enthusiasts.
According to data from the ministry, in the first three quarters of 2023, a total of 342,000 commercial live performances were staged in China, attracting 111 million audiences.
In March, shortly after the release of the circular, the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing welcomed celebrated Russian conductor Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra, one of the oldest musical ensembles in Russia. During the trip, the group put on high-quality renditions of renowned composers like Tchaikovsky, Debussy and Shostakovich.