The Nanjing International Plum Blossom Festival, the seventh of its kind, will open in Nanjing, the capital city of East China's Jiangsu Province on March 1, running until March 18.

The festival, which aims to spread folk arts associated with the plum culture in the ancient metropolis during six ancient feudal dynasties, echoes the national theme of China's tourism industry in 2002 - "Chinese folk art tourism."

Festival activities will include masquerades, folk performances and laser movies.

And 18 flower-decorated vehicles will tour the city for two days before driving to the nearby cities of Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Yangzhou.

On the night of March 9, some of the vehicles will be exhibited along the 700-metre-long Hunan Road in Nanjing.

In addition, the organizing committee of the China Nanjing International Plum Blossom Festival has prepared many other programs, including art exhibitions, a 1,000-person hip hop show, rock-climbing competitions and gala celebrations.

The 18,000 plum trees in the Plum Wood surrounding the Dr Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum have already been in full bloom because of the warm weather this year.

When the festival begins, there will be a special tour route between Nanjing and Fujiabian in Lishui County, where passengers can appreciate the pink and white clouds of blossoms, taste delicious plum preserves and buy exquisite souvenirs.

(China Daily March 1, 2002)