The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra joined the New York Philharmonic Tuesday for a free outdoor concert in Central Park in New York.

Artists from China brought the 2010 Shanghai World Expo message of "Better City, Better Life" to the Big Apple through music.

Although the free concert was scheduled to begin at 8 o'clock in the evening, music buffs were gathering on the Great Lawn of Central Park from early morning just to grab a seat with a good view.

The concert, which drew thousands of New Yorkers, consisted of two parts, with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra playing the first half, and the New York Philharmonic the latter half.

Tuesday's performance kicked off the New York Philharmonic's concert season and was dedicated to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

Yu Long, conductor and Artistic Director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, says he hopes the universal language of music can promote the Shanghai Expo and China to people around the world.

Yu Long said, "I hope the American audience will turn their gaze to Shanghai to China. And I hope the Shanghai Expo can leave an impressive mark on history."

Present at the concert was also Chinese piano sensation and Shanghai Expo ambassador Lang Lang. His performance won sustained and enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Lang Lang, pianist, said, "This concert makes more people know about the Shanghai Expo. And through the show I hope more people can go to Shanghai, go to China."

The first half of the concert reached a pinnacle when Chinese baritone Liao Changyong and soprano Huang Ying performed the duet "To the World Expo."

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra is a relatively young orchestra with a history of only 31 years. Nevertheless, it is the first invited foreign guest of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra for its Summer Park Concert, which started in 1965.