Thousands of residents watched the opening ceremony of the Tourism Festival 2005 on Saturday with a parade of floats running 2,200 meters along downtown Shanghai's Huaihai Zhonglu, signaling that the city has officially entered its high tourist season.

In its 16th year, the three-week festival, coinciding with the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and week-long National Day holiday this year, will draw millions of tourists from home and abroad, according to the Municipal Tourism Administrative Commission.

Chang Jianming, 55, a local who has witnessed the festival in previous years, said this event has helped make the city more attractive.

"In fact, Shanghai is not a city with abundant tourism resources as Beijing and other historical cities, so that such a festival with some carnivals in varied districts can draw attention from tourists," Chang said.

Shanghai is aiming to make the festival into a gala for domestic and international travelers. Parks, neighborhoods and suburban towns and villages will be the site for 47 events.

"It helps foreigners know more about Chinese culture," said Chris Mullard, chairman of London Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, who attended the opening parade as a judge of the floats.

The Notting Hill Carnival, starting from the mid-July to the end of August every year, could be connected with Shanghai Tourism Festival and package tours could be arranged for tourists from both countries, Mullard said.

To make the event more enjoyable, the municipal tourism commission has asked many local residents to be involved in organizing it.

The newly installed star-shaped hanging lights called "Baby starfish' that hang all along the Huaihai Zhonglu was a proposal by residents to illuminate the city.

Yao said the ticket-booking system has also been improved, making tickets available to travelers nationwide through hotlines.

(China Daily September 19, 2005)