Ethnic minority people dance in the maple woods at the Aolin Seedling Garden in Qidong, Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: qdrmt0513]

The Aolin Seedling Garden in Qidong, Jiangsu province, hosted the third China Maple Art Festival from Dec 8 to 23, which attracted literary and artistic workers, art lovers, and ethnic minority people from all over the country.

More than 10 famous poets, artists, and media professionals were invited to the festival.

"This is my third time coming to Qidong to participate in the China Maple Art Festival. This maple forest has a unique charm. I am always impressed by its vibrant colors and it always inspires me creatively," said Zhao Qin, a renowned painter.

The maple forest was cultivated by Guo Zhongliang over the past 20 years. He has supported more than 40 poor students with his income from the trees.

Since the first China Maple Art Festival was held in 2021, it has attracted many art lovers, young students, and average people, especially from the Yangtze River Delta region.

This year's festival also featured ethnic songs and dances by eight ethnic groups from Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, including the Mulao, Maonan, Zhuang, Yao, Miao, Dong, Jing, and Shui. They sang with local performers and rural students and shared their ethnic culture and history.

"It’s the first time I've seen ethnic songs and dances up close. It's so beautiful," said Xu Hongfang, a 66-year-old resident of Jiuxi village, Wangbao town in Qidong.