The opening ceremony of the 5th Culture and Tourism Festival of the Ningde World Geopark  on Sep 12 [Photo/fjsen.com]

The 5th Culture and Tourism Festival of the Ningde World Geopark, together with the 4th Cross-Straits Art and Photography Show, was recently held in Pingnan, an inland mountainous county in northeastern Fujian. Nearly 10,000 visitors attended the opening ceremony on Sep 12, according to people.com.cn.

The three-day festival consisted of promotional activities, a canoeing competition, performances, in order to display a unique charm of folk customs and geological wonders in Ningde.

Tasting local delicacies was also a highlight of the festival. Thirty-six booths displayed local varieties of hot and cold dishes, herbal cuisines and exquisitefruit and vegetable carving.

During the event, 100 pieces of photography works, from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, are on show. [Photo/fj.peoople.com]

During the event, 100 pieces of photography works, from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, were on show.

The sponsor told reporters that the art and photography show aims to develop cross-Straits cultural identity, in addition to promoting artists' exchanges.

The Pingnan government has always regarded tourism as a strategic pillar industry. It has showed a sound momentum of development, said Wu Xiande, director of Fujian Provincial Tourism Bureau.

He also warmly invited friends from both home and overseas to visit Ningde.

Located in the northeast of Ningde city and surrounded by the Taimu Mountains and Jiufeng Mountains, Ningde World Geopark is made up of three parts – Taimu Mountain in Fuding city, Baishuiyang in Pingnan county and Baiyun Mountain in Fu’an city.

In October 2010, the geopark was formally listed on the website of UNESCO's World Geopark and was granted the title of Ningde World Geopark.