The Chinese film festival that has played a major role in bolstering cultural exchanges between South Korea and China raised its curtains on Wednesday in Yongsan, Central Seoul.

Under the theme of "Meet the Greatest Muses in Chinese films," the sixth edition of the festival will feature movies of 10 leading Chinese actresses including Zhang Ziyi, Tang Wei, and Gong Li as well as the films that have not been released in South Korea.

Established in 2006, the festival has been held in South Korea as a Chinese film festival and in China as a (South) Korean film festival every other year.

It offers a window into Chinese culture to South Koreans by introducing latest Chinese movies.

Acclaimed China's Hong Kong filmmaker Jacob Cheung's romantic fantasy film, "Rest on Your Shoulder" was selected as the opening film for the festival.

The film stars Gigi Leung, Kwai Lun-Mei, and Jiang Yiyan, and tells the story of a young woman who sacrifices her human form to become a butterfly in exchange for the recovery of her sick fiance, a biologist.

Other films to be presented include Zhang Ziyi's "Jasmine Women, " Gong Li's "Curse of the Golden Flower," and Fan Bingbing's "Buddha Mountain."

Chinese actress Jiang Yiyan added glamour with her presence to the opening ceremony of the film festival.

After being held in Seoul from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2, the festival will move its venue to South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan and ends on Oct. 4.

On the sidelines of the festival, various events such as photo exhibitions of the actresses and cinema talks will be organized.