The China International Animation Festival rolls into its sixth year in Hangzhou, the picturesque capital city of Zhejiang Province. Every year since the annul event began in 2005, the Chinese animation industry has seen significant progress.

A stage extravaganza set against the amazing landscape of Hangzhou opened the 2010 China International Animation Festival on Wednesday night. The festival, which incorporates a trade fair, street pageant, and academic seminars, will run until next Monday.

The most alluring part will be the presence of the creative team behind the smash hit "Avatar", the movie that has set the bar for 3D film technology.

Girls shake hand with cartoon characters on streets in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, April 28, 2010. A cartoon carnival parade was held here Wednesday to raise the curtain of the 6th China International Cartoon & Animation Festival, the biggest cartoon festival in China. [Xinhua/Han Chuanhao]