The First China Buddhist Culture and International Tourist Fair opened in Luoyang in central China's Henan Province Sunday.

Over 10,000 people attended the opening ceremony at the White Horse Temple, the first officially-sanctioned Buddhist temple in China, founded in 68 AD and widely recognized as the cradle of China's Buddhist culture.

The highlight of the ceremony was the unveiling of marble monuments, on which were inscribed the Scripture of 42 Chapters, the first ever Buddhist scripture translated into Chinese, and copied by 44 noted calligraphers.

Other events at the fair, which ends on May 6, include performances of Buddhist music and monk Gongfu, a vegetarian diet show and an exhibition of Buddhist antiques, the organizers say.

(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2002)