An exhibition opened in Pescara, eastern Italy, Thursday to showcase the traditional costumes of China's minority ethnic groups, feasting local visitors on the unique oriental clothing culture.

The exhibition displays 43 sets of distinctive costumes of 33 Chinese ethnic minorities, including Tibetan, Mongolian, Uygur and Gaoshan ethnic groups.

Sun Yuxi, China's ambassador to Italy, said at the opening ceremony that the exhibits have rich flavor of life with profound cultural connotations, adding that he hoped the Italian people would know more about China through this exhibition.

The event is co-sponsored by the Chinese embassy and the Pescara municipal government. It will last until January 30, 2010.

China is home to 56 ethnic groups. The Han ethnic group has the largest population while the other 55 ethnic groups are relatively small and called ethnic minorities.

(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2009)