The 2012 China Culture Year in Turkey will begin in the Turkish capital of Ankara on December 12, officials from the cultural section of the Chinese embassy in Turkey said Wednesday.

Yu Jian, counselor of the cultural section, said that a reception will be held in Ankara to mark the beginning of the culture year activities.

Meanwhile, an art exhibition titled "Colors from Silk Road", highlighting works of famous Chinese painters, will also open.

During the culture year, many literature, art, cultural heritage, radio, cinema, education events, and acrobatics and puppet shows will be held in different Turkish cities, particularly Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Antalya, Mersin and Trabzon, said Li jie, a staff from the cultural section.

Further, hundreds of ancient Chinese artifacts will be displayed and some Chinese orchestras will give concerts in Turkey in 2012, Li said.

China will take part in the Istanbul International Film Festival in April, 2012, and a Chinese film week will be put on in Turkey.

In 2013, Turkey Culture Year in China will be celebrated.

(CNTV.cn, Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2011)