The first China Qidong Colorful Maple Art Festival was unveiled at the Japanese maple seedling base in Wangbao town in Qidong, a county-level city administered by Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province, on Nov 28.

The festival was inspired by Guo Zhongliang, a retired secondary school teacher who has been committed to planting Japanese maple trees for two decades and has established over 10 Japanese maple seedling bases with a total area of some 253 hectares. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Guo subsidized more than 30 poverty-stricken students with the operation revenue of the bases. He also strove to help local residents rise from poverty.

The art festival is comprised of on-site performances and online livestreaming activities. Photos taken by top domestic cameramen are also displayed in the Japanese maple forest. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Traditional Chinese calligraphy and paintings, 3D paintings, and singing and dancing performances also debut in the colorful Japanese maple forests. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

A small concert is held during the festival at the Japanese maple seedling base in Qidong. [Photo/ntfabu.com]