BEIJING - Around 160 events featuring French and Chinese cultural displays or performances will be staged across China during the near-three-month Sino-French cultural exchange festival, which opened on Wednesday.

Formally known as "Festival Croisements", the annual arts festival was created to further Sino-French cultural exchanges as a follow-up program to the China-France Culture Year (2003-2005).

It has been held in China annually since debuting in 2006, and is the biggest French arts festival outside France and also the biggest foreign cultural festival inside China.

Set to last until July 3, this year's festival will feature traditional aspects including literature, classic dance, opera and performances of ancient music alongside modern items including a multi-media interactive light show and a cartoon concert, according to the organizer.