Dancers in Marco Polo participate in the parade on the opening day of Beijing Week.[Photo/Xinhua]

After elaborate preparation, Marco Polo won praise from the audience. The show is the story about a young Italian man in the present day who is reading Travels of Marco Polo in Venice and is absorbed in the oriental legends until he dreams of himself as Marco Polo and travels into ancient China.

"Italian traveler Marco Polo marveled at Chinese culture along the Silk Road and we are doing the same along the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road," NCPA Vice President Li Zhixiang told Chinese media before the show kicked off.

The "Belt and Road" initiatives were introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping to boost infrastructure building, financial cooperation and cultural exchanges between Asia and Europe.