VISITORS to this year's Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will walk into a huge Chinese carnival featuring dragons, Chinese dance and firecrackers

Six thousand children from across Wales, the North West of England and the Midlands will be arriving for the colourful extravaganza on International Children's Day - which promises to get the week long festival off to an explosive start.

Enid Law, co-ordinator for International Children's Day, said: 'They will basically be walking into a huge Chinese carnival - the whole of the site will be decorated as a Chinese festival, firecrackers and all.

'There will be three satellite stages around the field - each one devoted to a different art form so we'll have Chinese acrobatics, Chinese dance and ritual opera and Chinese martial arts.

'All the children will have the opportunity to experience each of them and throughout the day there will be workshops, demonstrations and master classes.

'At the same time on the world stage in the Pavilion there will be a window on the world - the competitors will be doing what they do normally but it will be pepped up by a dancing lion and huge Chinese dragon.'

The extravaganza takes place on the first day of the International Eisteddfod, which is being held between July 6 and 11.

There will also be a strong Chinese element in the Parade of Nations at 5pm on the first day and Chinese artists will be working in marquees on the site.

The organisers will be linking up with all the Chinese communities in London, the Midlands and Liverpool.

Eisteddfod Chief Executive Mr Gwyn L Williams: 'This promises to be one of the largest Chinese events in the country this year and one certainly not to be missed by children of all ages.

'We take great pride in being able to showcase the best in world culture here in Llangollen and here we can present one of the world's oldest.

'What we will see here on July 6 was first developed more than 3,000 years ago but it still presents us with some of the most spectacular displays to be found anywhere on the planet.'