A float featuring Haibao, the mascot of the 2010 World Expo, leads the gala parade along Huaihai Road in downtown Shanghai on September 13, 2008, kicking off the 19th Shanghai Tourism Festival. [Shanghaidaily.com]

Shanghai welcomed the start of its annual tourism festival Saturday night in fine style with a grand parade and traditional fireworks.

More than 400,000 people cheered the opening ceremony of the 19th Shanghai Tourism Festival, despite rain spells courtesy of typhoon Sinlaku.

Spectators watched 21 floats parade along Huaihai Road in Luwan District and 28 performing squads from both home and abroad. Almost all the floats were decorated with fresh, colorful flowers in keeping with this year's "floral" theme.

Haibao, the 2010 World Expo mascot, was the first float to arrive at the main stage and was given a rousing cheer by spectators.

It was followed by a squad of huge performing puppets representing different nationalities and marking Shanghai's welcome to Expo.