China will hold its sixth Arts Festival this September in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province in east China.

The triennial event is the biggest showcase of China's artistic achievements, and it aims to promote folk culture and improve the national spirit, according to one local official.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and the provincial government of Jiangsu, the festival will be of special significance as it will be the country's first national art gala in the new millennium, said a senior official.

Performances will be given in Nanjing and other four major cities in Jiangsu. Overseas artists also will be invited to participate in the event, the official said.

A total of 80 performances will be staged by domestic and overseas troupes during the festival, he added.