Chinese president leaves for Luxor to launch Egyptian-Chinese cultural year

Chinese President Xi Jinping left Cairo on Thursday for Luxor city to announce the launch of the Egyptian-Chinese cultural year marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Egyptian-Chinese ties.

The Chinese president will visit Luxor Temple, where a special stage was set up in the middle of the Pharaonic temple.

He will attend a huge concert given by more than 500 Egyptian and Chinese artists, along with a number of cultural activities including an Egyptian-Chinese art exhibition.

Luxor, the city hosting the launching of the cultural year, is the site of the Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes. It has frequently been characterized as the "world's greatest open-air museum", as the ruins of the temple complexes at Karnak and Luxor stand within the modern city.

Luxor Temple was founded in 1400 BC. To the rear of the temple are chapels built by Amenhotep III, and Alexander.
Other parts of the temple were built by Tutankhamun and Rameses II. During the Roman era, the temple and its surroundings were a legionary fortress and the home of the Roman government in the area.