(Photo provided to Xinhua Daily)

The opening ceremony of the Yangtze River Culture and Tourism Festival was held in Nanjing on July 13.

Stretching over 6,300 km, the river is considered an iconic symbol of the Chinese nation and Chinese civilization. As the capital city of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing has a long history deeply intertwined with the waterway.

Participants in the opening ceremony included representatives from cities along the river, such as Chongqing, Changsha, Wuhan, Nanchang, Jiujiang and Shanghai, as well as those from the Nanjing-centered city cluster, culture and tourism departments, tourist attractions, travel agencies and e-commerce platforms. They held discussions on deepening the integration of culture and tourism and creating travel routes that highlight the river.

The festival recommended four travel routes in Nanjing under different themes and showcased the city's tourism resources related to heritage buildings, culture, historical sites with a modern revolutionary legacy and local cuisine.

(CFP Photo)

Nanjing plans to leverage its resources, such as the riverfront and Qixia Mountain, to host a series of activities throughout the festival. These activities will range from trunk bazaars to programs featuring crayfish, beer, music and electronic fireworks shows.

The festival is organized by the Nanjing Municipal People's Government and will last until August 31.