The Shanghai Tourism Festival 2006 will run from September 16 to October 6, organizers announced over the weekend.

They hope one of the major attractions at this year's event will be a massive food festival at the Shanghai Super Brand Mall in Pudong from September 22 to 24.

While the event will feature foods from around the world, many will come from Southeast Asian nations such as Thailand and Malaysia, according to a spokesman for the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission. Several foreign chefs will attend the event to make sure the dishes are authentic.

At the same time a Taiwan snacks exhibition will take place along Yandang Road in Luwan District.

The event will also have something for those who like a strong drink, whether it is German beer or a nice Chablis. A wine tasting event will be held at the Super Brand Mall, while a German Beer Festival will run from September 13 to 23 at the Renaissance Yangtze Shanghai Hotel.

Another highlight of the event will be traditional celebrations associated with the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, a holiday to mark the harvest that is celebrated with a family reunion. The festival falls on October 6 this year, but celebrations will run throughout the tourism festival in Zhujiajiao, a water town in Qingpu District, and Guilin Park on Caobao Road in Xuhui District.

The tourism festival will begin with a parade along Huaihai Road on September 16. The parade will start at 7:30pm and run for 1 1/2 hours, followed by an outdoor party on Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall.

(Shanghai Daily July 26, 2006)