Beijing International Tourism Festival in Ditan Park

When the 16th Beijing International Tourism Festival opened in Ditan Park the morning of Sept 30, China’s 65th anniversary, it had a theme of "Harmonious Beijing, Happy Travel" and plenty of activities to attract tourists from China and abroad.

On hand for the opening ceremony were Cheng Hong, deputy mayor of Beijing, Ma Lin, vice-secretary general of Beijing, and Song Yu, director of the Municipal Tourism Development Commission, host of the show, along with various domestic and overseas visitors. The ceremony took place in Ditan Park, a symbol of Beijing’s cultural traditions, where foreign tourists and Chinese were overwhelmed by the vitality.

The ceremony was meant to be both attractive and unique, so it started with a “flash mob” performance by students and locals who volunteered to perform, giving the festival an interactive, welcoming feel. After the opening, 20 art groups, including the US’s Aboriginal Aztec Tour of Santa Monica College, Brazil’s Samba Dance Troupe, Italy’s Classical Flag Dance Troupe, and Germany’s Turken Jive Dance Troupe, put on exotic performances for the spectators.

The week-long festival was running simultaneously with other festivals in tourists sites around Beijing, including the World Grape Park in Yanqing County, Peach Garden, in the Daxing district, Garden Expo, in the Fengtai district, Grand View Garden, in the Xicheng district, Changping’s Juyongguan Great Wall, and Botanical Garden in the Haidian district.