Dancers perform Chinese Tibetan mask dance in front of Capitol Hill in the 16th Chinese Culture Festival in Washington on October 31, 2015. PAN JIALIANG/FOR CHINA DAILY

Face painting, dazzling Sichuan embroidery and Tibetan dancers waving colorful long sleeves caught the eye of passers-by in front of Capitol Hill in Washington.

The arresting performances and works of art were celebrating the 16th Chinese Culture Festival called Splendid Sichuan on Oct 31. Held by the China Overseas Exchanges Association, the Greater Washington Chinese American Community and provincial governments, the event allows different Chinese provinces or autonomous regions to present their cultures to the US people.

"Through this event, the American people can better understand Chinese culture, in particular, Sichuan culture, whose roots not only include the Han culture but also Tibetan traditions and the culture of the Yi ethnic minority," said Zhang Yechu, a representative from the Sichuan provincial government.

"The Chinese Culture Festival enables people from the US to actually see and touch Chinese culture. And I hope there will be more events like this to be held in Washington," said Susan Lee, a state senator from Maryland.

"I was just passing by. And I was supposed to visit the museums in this area. But I heard beautiful music and costumes. It is amazing to watch the dancers wearing clothes from different ancient dynasties," said Ida Carey, an intern in the history department of Arlington National Cemetery and originally from Texas. "I was socked when I learned that the lyrics of the song came from the oldest Chinese poem. I'm fascinated."

Mark, a photographer, was drawn by the hundreds of Chinese paper umbrellas placed on the lawn of the National Mall. “They are stunning. I hope more people can get here to see this. I will probably wait for another hour to take more pictures.”

If people could see the umbrellas from a bird’s-eye view, they's see that they form the two Chinese characters for "Sichuan" and the two letters "DC", according to the organizers.

"It takes lots of time, energy and money to host the festival," said Wang Lu, director of the Chinese Culture Festival who has been running a beauty store in Arlington for more than 20 years. "I have been here for eight years. All the Chinese working or living here volunteer to help host it because in this way we are able to contribute to promoting Chinese culture in the US."

Wang Guowei, a Chinese graduate student at the School of Public Policy at Johns Hopkins University, said: "I'm really excited to see the paintings, because they show the mountains and rivers of Sichuan province and I come from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan. Everything is so familiar."

"I'll definitely look into Chinese history. Because its culture has lasted so long and the music and paintings are so pretty," Carey said.