BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The 2018 Spring Festival gala for overseas Chinese will tour 29 cities, according to the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council Tuesday.

One art troupe started its tour to the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao last Friday, and another five art troupes will start their performances worldwide from Feb. 17, said the office.

The six art troupes are expected to stage a total of 33 gala shows for Chinese living in 16 countries and regions across North America, South America, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

The annual Spring Festival gala tour for overseas Chinese dates back to 2009. Since then, 69 troupes have been sent to dozens of countries and regions, said Tan Tianxing, deputy director of the office.

There have been 417 shows staged in 303 cities around the world, attracting an audience of 6.1 million, according to Tan.