The 17th South China Sea Guanyin Cultural Festival is launched on Oct 27 in Putuo district, Zhoushan. [Photo/zhoushan.cn]

The launch ceremony of the 17th South China Sea Guanyin Cultural Festival was held on Oct 27 on Mount Putuo, an island under the jurisdiction of Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province.

Mount Putuo is one of the four sacred mountains in Chinese Buddhism and is believed to be the ashram of the bodhisattva Guanyin.

In Chinese, Guanyin is short of Guanshiyin, which can be translated as "the one who perceives the sounds of the world." The name is associated with compassion and mercy in Chinese Buddhism.

The festival consists of several different activities, including a forum on the development of Buddhism in China, a lantern show at night and several exhibitions.

According to the organizing committee of the festival, many culture figures were invited to the forum to hold discussions with eminent monks.

An exhibition showcasing various kinds of Buddhism-related items, such as sculptures, tools, lanterns and costumes, attracted nearly 200 exhibitors from all over the country.

There was also an art exhibition for Guanyin sculptures. This art form can be dated back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), according to experts.