BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The first China Giant Panda International Culture Week is being held in Beijing to boost the global influence of giant panda culture.

A series of exhibitions featuring the achievements of giant panda preservation and panda-themed artwork are scheduled from Aug. 21 to 26, where visitors can appreciate giant panda culture and gain knowledge about the species through photographs, video clips and virtual reality experiences.

The event is expected to further promote the idea of harmonious coexistence between man and nature in the culture of the giant panda, Yang Chao, an official with the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, said at the opening ceremony of the event on Thursday.

Themed "Sharing Panda Culture with the World," the Culture Week will also be introduced to foreign countries including Britain, the Netherlands and Austria later this year, according to the organizer.

Giant pandas mainly live in the mountains of northern Sichuan Province as well as southern Gansu and Shaanxi provinces.