SOFIA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition entitled "Magic of the East" opened here on Monday on the Lovers' Bridge near the National Palace of Culture.

The two-week event features nearly 70 breathtaking photo shoots showing culture, everyday life and nature of 17 countries including China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Kuwait, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Mongolia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan, Palestine, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, the Philippines and Japan.

A fashion show in an ancient residence, a dance, a Tai Chi performance and a stone bridge over a river in an ancient Chinese city are the four photos from China.

The viewers can also see photos of Taj Mahal Mausoleum in India, rice terraces in Indonesia, a family walk in Japan, horses in snow blizzard in Mongolia, traditional wedding ceremony in Pakistan, Chocolate Hills in the Philippines, sand desert in Saudi Arabia, traditional market in Thailand, falconry in the UAE, and Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City at night among others.

Todor Chobanov, deputy mayor of Sofia, said at the opening ceremony that it was the most suitable place for the exhibition because Bulgaria was a bridge between the East and the West, a crossroad of civilizations, and a place where people from all over the world met.

On behalf of the participating countries and regions, Sri Astari Rasjid, the Indonesian Ambassador to Bulgaria, said she hoped the exhibition would build many more bridges of love and partnership between Asian countries and Bulgaria -- not only in the field of culture but also in tourism, trade and investment.

China's Ambassador to Bulgaria Dong Xiaojun was also present at the ceremony.

The photo exhibition is part of the preliminary events promoting the Asian Festival Sofia 2019, which will be held in June for the third year in a row.