The 15th Suzhou Oriental Water City International Tourism Festival held its opening ceremony at 20:00 on April 27 in the “Garden of Wind Square” southwest of the Jinji Lake of Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

Leaders attending the ceremony included Sun Jiazheng, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Shao Qiwei, Chief Bureau of the National Tourism Bureau, and Jiang Hongkun, Secretary of Suzhou Municipal Party Committee. Local residents and thousands of tourists also participated in the grand moment.

It also leads to the opening of the 2nd Jinji Lake Business Tourism Festival.

The opening ceremony, with the theme of "the Oriental Water City on dreamlike night", promoted Suzhou as a modern city with a developing tourism industry.

The ceremony included a boat parade, performances, lights and firework show, which highlights both the local characteristics and modern international factors of Suzhou, portraying Suzhou as a tourist destination with classic romance and modern vitality.

During the ceremony, Jinji Lake turned into a magnificent stage displaying the charms of Suzhou as an oriental water city.

There were also several smaller stages scattered along the scenic spots around Jinji Lake such as City Square, Lakeshore Boulevard, and Moonlight Dock.

Six theme activities and 51 events will be held during the ten-day festival, which will promote its brand as a gala attracting an increasing number of locals and tourists.