The opening ceremony of the Third Rudong Xiaoyangkou Ocean and Hot Spring Cultural Tourism Festival is held at the Xiaoyangkou Resort in Rudong county on Nov 20. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

The Third Rudong Xiaoyangkou Ocean and Hot Spring Cultural Tourism Festival opened on Nov 20 at the Xiaoyangkou Resort in Rudong county. It will last for three months.

Hundreds of government officials, representatives of travel agencies, photographers, and journalists from local media outlets took part in the launch ceremony, where a series of new tourism products was introduced.

Fashion shows featuring hanfu, the traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group, and qipao, a traditional Chinese body-hugging, one-piece dress, were also held at the ceremony.

In recent years, the Xiaoyangkou resort has been taking advantage of its location near the southern Yellow Sea and its many hot springs to build itself into a tourist destination combining sightseeing, recreation, seafood, scientific education, and sports.

As winter approaches, the resort will host an array of activities, including a winter swimming competition, a fishing contest, and a month-long food promotion event, to attract tourists and stimulate consumption.

A hot spring water park is also currently under construction there, with all its recreational facilities imported from Germany. The park will be open year-round and is expected to receive three million tourists annually.