China's famed "Iron City" of Ma'anshan is luring 40 sculptors from home and abroad to join the 1st China International Contest and Display of Steel Sculptures, to be held in the eastern Chinese city in Anhui province starting Oct 22 this year.

Senior city official Sheng Houlin announced at a news conference the gala will provide a platform for sculptors from the world over to display marvelous works of steel sculptures, so as to promote the local art.

"The event will be held every two years with attempts to develop it into a comprehensive cultural festival nationwide," said Sheng, a member of the Standing Committee of CPC Ma'anshan Municipal Committee and chief of the Publicity Department under CPC Ma'anshan Municipal Committee.

As one of essential industrial materials, steel and iron has played an important role in promoting the local economic growth, he said, noting that the city is producing at least 16 million tons of steel each year.

As a city for transferring industries from the Yangtze River Delta Area, the most powerful area of economic strength in China, Ma'anshan has now accumulated a group of industries including steel and iron making, machinery, automobile and electricity.

According to Qu Chenming, a famous Chinese sculptor, the city has not only extended its industrial chains to services and tourism nowadays, but also to art and culture.

"However, the cold steel can also be endowed with cultural marks, as it has enlarged the traditional modes of sculpturing," he said.

He affirmed China's art of sculpturing has received worldwide reputation evolving over several centuries. Nowadays, as a unique part of sculptural culture, the art of steel has found its bright future in Ma'anshan.

Sheng said under the theme of "Enhancing Culture of Steel and Showing Charm of Ma'anshan," the event will make efforts to explore the city's resources of steel culture, and meet people's increasing demands of enjoying cultural life.

• [Editor:editor]