The opening ceremony of 2012 Tibet Yarlung Cultural Festival was launched Wednesday in Zetang County of Lhoka Prefecture in souhtwest China's Tibet, Aug.15, 2012.

Lasting a week until Aug.21, the cultural festival features over 20 cultural and recreational activities, including characteristic Tibetan art performances, intangible cultural heritage show, the first Lhoka youth singing contest, fine arts and photography exhibitions, traditional ethnic sport competitions as well as investment symposiums.

Besides, a series of tourism activities with ethnic and regional characteristics will last until October, such as micro traveling in Lhoka, holy weddings and ethic cultural custom tours of Ongkor Festival and Herdsmen's Festival in Drigu County.

The Yarlung Cultural Festival has been held twice since 1992.

This year's festival aims to build a local cultural brand and push fast and sound development of social economy in Lhoka through a combination of culture, tourism and investment talks, according to Pubu, director of the region's cultural department.

Actors danced at the opening ceremony of 2012 Tibet Yarlung Cultrual Festival in Zetang County of Lhoka Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Aug.15, 2012. The festival which kicked off on Wednesday, will last until Aug. 21.[Photo/China Tibet Online]