A senior conducts a sacrificial service for the local residents on a ceremony held in Huangguoshu waterfall on Friday. ?

Anshun, Guizhou province - The Huangguoshu Waterfall Festival officially launched in the city of Anshun, Southwest China's Guizhou province on Friday.

The waterfall of Huangguoshu, literally Yellow Fruit Tree, is the most well-known scenic spot of Guizhou.

Yan Xueli, head of Anshun’s publicity department, said on the opening ceremony that some 22 celebration shows, sports events, forums and trade fairs will be held during the festival. She said among the events, more than half will be held as nationwide or international activities.

An international forum concerning the development of China’s western regions’ tourism industry, which has invited a panel of masters including Long Yongtu, China's former chief negotiator to the entry of the World Trade Organization and Professor Larry Hsien Ping Lang of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who will exchange ideas of local tourism economy impact, is set to launch on Saturday, as part of the festival.

In promoting the festival, local tourism authority will also provide a novel service of “air tour”——tourists may take small aircraft to overlook the downtown and several scenic spots. The one-hour-long journey will cost each tourist 300 yuan ($45).

The waterfall festival has become one of the highest profile and most influential tourism gala in Guizhou province since its initial launch in 2005.