Anji water festival gets off to a splashing start

The third Anji water festival has begun in neighboring Zhejiang Province and visitors from Shanghai are invited to enjoy a cool summer in the county in northwest Zhejiang known for its bamboo forests.

On the list of festival attractions are hanfu (a traditional Han Chinese dress) fashion shows, water yoga, bonfire parties, boat races and barbecues at the No.1 scenic area of Huangpu River root in Anji, while camping, bonfires and a forest food festival will be hosted at the Xianlongxia tourist attraction this summer.

The Bamboo Garden in Anji will host a water splashing festival, while the Hello Kitty theme park will stage parades and performances at night.

Anji has deep links with Shanghai, and the aim is to make the county the backyard garden of Shanghai and the most attractive summer tourism destination in the Yangtze River Delta region, said Ren Guiming, deputy director of Anji County.

Anji has more than 1,200 river courses stretching 1,571 kilometers. Its Longwang Mountain known for its steep cliffs and deep valleys in Zhangcun Town is recognized as the source of the Huangpu River.