The 23rd Qingdao International Beer Festival, the largest event of its kind in Asia, will take place in Beer City, in the Laoshan district of Qingdao, Shandong province, from August 10 to 25, and it will include many activities, such as beer drinking contests, trade exhibitions, and gala performances.

The festival also includes venues in the Shinan, Shibei, Huangdao and Licang districts, and the opening ceremony and all the various events usually attract a total of more than 3 million Chinese and overseas visitors each year.

The main venue has added three new sections – the Qingdao Beer Plaza, International Food Expo, and the Munich Beer Crystal Palace.

The event has been held annually in the city of Qingdao since 1991, and it is sponsored by various Chinese ministries and the municipal government. Over the years, it has received many honors, such as a Top 10 award last year for its tourism brand from the China Tourism Industry Development Forum.

There has also been a steady increase in the number of breweries attending the event - with 27 popular brands from 18 countries, including Thailand and Serbia, and more than 300 related products - set to take part this year.

The festival, with a theme that focuses on Theme: Safety, Ecology, Wisdom & Culture, will help the authorities promote local tourism, increase international exchanges and cooperation, raise the city’s profile internationally, and develop the city into an international, people-oriented culture brand.