The Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra gives a show in Detroit, the most populous city in the state of Michigan, US on Feb 19. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra from East China's Zhejiang province began a special Spring Festival tour in the United States on Feb 15.

Four shows are expected to be staged in Chicago, Detroit, Muscatine and San Diego from Feb 15 to 25.

On Feb 17, the orchestra made its debut in Chicago at the invitation of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, one of the top orchestras in the world.

Familiar tunes of a variety of folk Chinese operas including Huangmei Opera, Shaoxing Opera, Beijing Opera, Henan Opera and Qinqiang Opera reminded overseas Chinese of their homeland. A special performance named Picturesque Zhejiang presented the most distinctive culture of the province to the audience with music. The orchestra also showed to the audience Uygur folk song Lift Your Veil and the popular song Crossing the River.

This is the fourth year for the Chicago Symphony Center to stage a grand performance during the Chinese New Year.

Chinese Consul General in the city Hong Lei hailed the show as an opportunity for Americans to have a better understanding of Chinese culture.

The musicians were invited to Detroit two days later. There, their performances attracted roughly 2,000 spectators and added artistic hues to the industrial hub of US. They went to Muscatine, Iowa on Feb 21, bringing Chinese New Year festivity to the small city along the Mississippi River.

The tour in US is part of China's 2018 Happy Chinese New Year event. Zhou Lifang, director of the Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra, said the goal of the orchestra is to "endow symphony with Chinese characteristics and Chinese music with world tune."

An American family watches the musical instruments closely after the show in Chicago, Illinois on Feb 17. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]