The International Economy and Trade Tourism Festival named "Flowery March " is inaugurated in Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, April 18, 2006.

Local dancers perform at the opening of Yangzhou 2006 International Economy and Trade Tourism Festival April 18, 2006. [yznews.com]

The Flowery March Festival highlights the Grand Canal, local culture and ecological environment, attaches importance to the invitation of foreign funds and businesses, the launch of projects as well as the participation of local citizens.

Ji Jianye, secretary of Yangzhou Municipal Committee of the CPC, declares the festival open at the inauguration ceremony.

A total of 3,500 guests from all over the world grace the festival in the city of prosperity and beautiful scenery.

Distinguished guests invited to tour the city were entertained with music and dance performances. Local folk songs and dances associated with the Grand Canal presented to audience the charm of local culture and the river.

Yangzhou Mayor Wang Yanwen addresses the guests, introducing Yangzhou and welcoming investments from home and abroad.

From April 17th to 19th, major events for the festival includes China Yangzhou Machine Tool Expo. And Carved Jadeware Expo., a ceremony celebrating the launch of a series of projects funded by foreign and civil capital, a briefing on Yangzhou Export Processing Zone, a briefing on business opportunities in Yangzhou, opening ceremony for Flowery March Festival, etc.

The city of Yangzhou has been renowned throughout its 2500 year history for its cultural and agricultural prosperity (the Wu rulers had channels dug here 500 BC which were later incorporated into the Grand Canal).

Because of its position at the junction of the Yangzi, the Grand Canal and the Huaihe River, Yangzhou rapidly developed into a prosperous city.

Some of Chinese businessmen's ideal is to earn thousands of dollars and then ride a crane down to Yangzhou.

For several kilometers along the Ancient Canal, local art and entertaining groups of over 3,500 members celebrated the special occasion by demonstrating their skills in over 20 varieties of folk arts, such as playing drums and musical instruments, dancing and presenting fashion and puppet shows, etc.

Many foreign merchants, includinga comunity from Persia, lived and traded here, leavinga twelfth centurymosque and the much-quoted but unsubstained tale that Marco Polo governedthe city for three years.

Vice Mayor Wang Rongping summarized the purpose of this year?¡¥s tourism festival: exhibiting the new developmental achievements, displaying the renovation of cultural spots and the novel features of industrial parks.

Yangzhou is a relaxing city although nowadays there is an industrial belt stretching around the south and east of the city.