Performers showcase their skills at the Huazhao Festival. [Photo by Dang Wenxi for news.cri.cn]

The second Huazhao Festival, aka the Flower Festival, kicked off on April 9 in Tianshui, Gansu province.

Martial arts, a fashion show and guzheng performances were among the many activities arranged for the opening ceremony to offer a cultural feast to the public.

The Huazhao Festival, which has a history of over 2,000 years, is held in celebration of the flower goddess' birthday. According to ancient beliefs, the flower goddess controlled the reproduction of mankind and it later became a custom to celebrate the birthday of the flower goddess for prosperity.