Chengdu welcomes peach blossom festival

The annual peach blossom festival in Chengdu's Longquanyi district will kick off in mid-March, said Peng Buyou, chief of the district's information office, at a news conference on March 8.

The event, jointly sponsored by the Chengdu municipal government and the Sichuan Provincial Tourism Bureau, will host nearly 60 themed activities including mountain-climbing events, a cooking competition, theatrical performances and a photo exhibition, according to Peng.

This year's event will encourage thrift and low-carbon tours, said an anonymous local official.

"We suggest tourists come by bus or subway. Those who drive here may park in a free parking lot outside the scenic area and take a free bus to go sightseeing," he said.

Local farmers will also benefit from the event, which brings them 650 million yuan ($104.52 million) in income every year.