The Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission announced yesterday that 21 festooned floats - featuring four themes: metropolitan scenes, ancient culture, environ-mental protection and exotic flavors - will parade along downtown Huaihai Road from 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, raising the curtains on the Shanghai Tourism Festival, running through October 6.

Another 21 phalanx, consisting of 800 performers from home and abroad, such as Australia, Italy, Brazil and Switzerland, will join in the parade, officials revealed. Locals can appreciate the performance either on the spot or through live television broadcast. Traffic to Huaihai Road will be blocked, while public buses will have to change routes to make a way for the parade.

( eastday.com September 11, 2002)