The ongoing 23rd China Shanghai International Arts Festival is poised to host about 5,000 artists from over 80 countries and regions.

This year's festival features approximately 60 percent of the 163 performances presented by overseas groups.

Noteworthy is the trend of world-renowned troupes customizing their performances for Shanghai, bringing all-star lineups and classic productions.

Alongside performances, open rehearsals, guided tours, and backstage encounters aim to engage audiences from around the globe.

On Oct 20, Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, a familiar presence at the festival, and the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra made their fourth visit to the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, presenting compositions by Mussorgsky, Shostakovich, and Tchaikovsky.

The festival's increasing influence is evident with renowned troupes such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Bolshoi Ballet, and The Monte Carlo Ballet (Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo) selecting Shanghai as their exclusive stop in China.

"Valuable cultural assets can attract cultural tourists and transform culture and art into an enticing focal point for the city," said Yang Jialu, vice-president of the China Shanghai International Arts Festival Center.

Taking the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's residency this June as an example, the turnover of restaurants near the Shanghai Grand Theater increased by 30 to 40 percent, with the highest order volume boosted by 94 percent and the transaction amount by 167 percent.

Sources: shanghai.gov.cn, WeChat account of Shanghai Grand Theatre