SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The 2019 "Happy Chinese New Year" Shanghai Cultural Week kicked off here Thursday, celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations between China and the United States a few days ahead of China's Lunar New Year.

This is the first time that Shanghai has presented to people of the U.S. western coastal city a host of cultural events in the form of radio and TV productions, movies and sports activities since it established the sister city relationship with San Francisco 39 years ago.

The cultural week, which lasts until Feb. 6, will give overseas Chinese and the U.S. audience in San Francisco an opportunity to feel the charm of the Shanghai-style culture.

They will be exposed to a variety of cultural masterpieces including movies, musical pieces, TV shows, documentaries, Peking Opera, Shanghai Opera, burlesque and other classical local operas, as well as sports activities.