The China Kunshan International Cultural Tourism Festival has been successfully held three times since 2008. The upcoming festival will have six major events and five series of activities. Compared with previous sessions, this year's festival will present four new features:

1. Inheritance and development of traditional culture will be emphasized. The opening ceremony will be bound together with the Zhouzhuang Tourism Festival again to illustrate Kunshan culture and folk customs as well as reflect the fusion of Kunshan city's open characteristics.

2. Tourism industry stimulation and enhancement will be more valued. Hosting the Kunshan Tourism Promotion and Investment Fair, Tourism Products Creative Design Contest and Kunshan Tourism Products Exhibition will help "promote development via festival cultures".

3. Public interest and benefit will be given greater importance. Loujiang will become a leisure and cultural promenade through colorful lanterns, cultural performances and leisure cuisine. Loujiang will let Kunshan citizens truly enjoy the festive atmosphere through the Our Homeland public walk.

4. The role of festivals as tourism bridges and windows will be maximized. Through the Kunshan Tourism Promotion and Investment Seminars, the Kunshan Cup Yangtze River Delta Tourism News Awards and Kunshan - Nemours city (Great Paris region) Tourism Cultural Exchange to promote tourism cooperation, also for a better reputation of Kunshan tourism.

On the evening of April 22, 2011, the 2011 China Kunshan International Cultural Tourism Festival and the 16th China Zhouzhuang International Tourism Festival grand opening were held on the Zhouzhuang Water Stage. The International Tourism Marketing Association, Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, Jiangsu Provincial Tourism Bureau, Shanghai Tourism Bureau, Suzhou Municipal People's Government, Suzhou municipal tourism bureau, Suzhou municipal new media bureau, and many other cultural and tourism industry leaders visited Kunshan and joined in the event. More than 20 city representatives from the Yangtze River Delta, more than 100 domestic and overseas tourism business customers, nearly 100 media and press groups, all the guests from the fourth ancient town protection and development (Zhouzhuang) forum, and many international friends participated in the great event.

At the beginning of the opening ceremony, Zhang Guohua, secretary of the CPC Kunshan municipal committee, welcomed all domestic and foreign guests with an ebullient speech. Alford Jefferson, chairman of the International Tourism Marketing Association; and Zhang Jisheng, deputy chief secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government; delivered speeches, assuring the audience of the unremitting efforts and excellent achievements made by Kunshan and Zhouzhuang in the development of the tourism industry.

After all the leaders and guests witnessed the opening moment of the festival at 8 pm, a brilliant performance followed with melodious music and magnificent dancing. The performance revealed regional cultural elements and greatly impressed the delegates. It also gave the audience a fantastic, charming cultural experience. At the same time, in the town center of Kunshan city, many other activities were going on. Large-scale lanterns distributed along both sides of the Lou River, Kunqu opera, vibrant hip hop, funny clowns, folk guitarists, cosplay demos, and art and craft pieces embellished the entire city, attracting many citizens and tourists.

Time: April 22

Location: Kunshan