The "Top of the World" International Youth Piano Competition (TWIYPC) debuts in Jinan, the capital city of East China's Shandong province on Jan 21. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The "Top of the World" International Youth Piano Competition (TWIYPC) debuted in Jinan, the capital city of East China's Shandong province on Jan 21. 

The event, backed by the China International Cultural Communication Center and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in China, is an international piano contest especially for young piano players under 24 years of age.

The contest, held every two years, aims to select excellent young pianists to participate in the "Top of the World” International Piano Competition held in Tromso, Norway. 

As the first time that the event has been held in Jinan, its debut will provides a bridge for musical exchanges between China and Norway. The event also promotes folk culture communication among Jinan and Tromso. 

The international contest consists of three stages: the preliminary, the rematch and the final. The final contest will be held in May at Jinan's Shandong Provincial Capital Culture and Art Center Grand Theatre.