One of the most anticipated performances is the Shanghai Huju Opera Theater's Highly Confidential, which will premiere on Wednesday. This revolution-themed play tells the story of a revolutionary who spent years protecting secret documents for the Communist Party of China.

Huju is a local opera form in Shanghai and many of the repertoires are about China's revolutionary history, says Mao Shanyu, head of the company and a famous Huju Opera actress. Supported by the Shanghai Cultural Development Foundation, Highly Confidential was commissioned by the CSIAF.

"We are a festival as well as a creative platform for the performing arts," says Wang. "We believe it is our mission to present the outstanding culture and heritage of Shanghai."

Highly Confidential is based on a true story that happened in the city, and Mao believes that "by presenting the historical tale in the local Huju Opera, we can touch the audiences' hearts, especially those of the young generation".

An important part of the CSIAF is the Art Space project, which aims to make high-quality art productions more accessible to people through affordable ticket prices and public performances.

For example, Angela Georgiou, an internationally renowned soprano, will be performing Puccini, Bizet, Rossini, Glinka, Massenet and Mozart arias alongside the Budapest Symphony Orchestra at Gongqing Forest Park tonight. On Sunday afternoon, the Hungarian orchestra will present a concert at the Shanghai City Lawn Music Plaza.