Luxor Temple witnesses launching of Egyptian-Chinese cultural year

Luxor Temple will witness on Thursday evening the launching of the activities of the Egyptian-Chinese cultural year to mark the 60th anniversary over the establishment of Egyptian-Chinese ties.

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are to give the go-ahead of the activities.

A huge concert is planned on the occasion of the launching in which more than 500 Egyptian and Chinese artists will participate.

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.