Lang Lang, a world renowned pianist and a UN peace ambassador, performs at the closing ceremony of the 2021 China (Ningbo) Grand Canal International Piano Art Festival on May 10. [Photo/Ningbo Evening News]

The 2021 China (Ningbo) Grand Canal International Piano Art Festival closed in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province on May 10.

First held in 2019, the festival comes as part of Zhejiang's efforts to preserve and promote the Grand Canal culture, echoing the central government's call to construct a cultural belt along the river.

As the event's art director, world renowned pianist Lang Lang described all the festival's activities as "perfect" at the closing ceremony and expressed hope to bring more world-class music events to Ningbo in the future.

Winners of a piano contest named after Lang Lang that was held simultaneously along the festival were also announced.