On the morning of April 16, the 11th session of the Qiong Flower Arts Festival, a highlight of the 2011 China Kunshan International Cultural Tourism Festival, opened at Tinglin Garden in Kunshan city. Han Wei, vice-mayor of the Kunshan Municipal People's Government; Xia Xiaoliang, vice-mayor of the municipal people's government; Mo Quanming, deputy chief secretary of the municipal people's government; Dong Jianguo, director of the city tourism bureau; Xu Wenyi, director of the city landscape greening management bureau; Yan Qin, deputy director of the municipal tourism bureau; and Huang Yi, civilization office deputy director, attended the opening ceremony.

2011 was a key year for Kunshan's leading realization of city modernization. The Qiong Flower Festival was themed "propagating the city spirit, constructing modern Kunshan" in response to the government's calling. It fused cultural heritage and interactive entertainment. The intention was to present the ancient city, historical and cultural heritage, and folk customs to the vast number of Chinese and foreign visitors through the traditional festival.

Compared with the previous sessions, this festival paid more attention to demonstrating local cultural characteristics, highlighting broad public participation and concentrating on outstanding art quality. The Qiong flower was taken as a medium to create an ornamental and interactive festival, as well as to create a healthy, civilized, warm and colorful festival atmosphere. The Qiong Flower Arts Festival lasted from April 16 to May 8, during which more than 10 activities like youth performances, operas and theatrical performances, calligraphy exhibitions, local cuisine plazas, and "my home" bonsai exhibitions were launched to let visitors have a taste of the unique culture.

In a word, the festival hoped to be innovative in order to carry forward traditional tourism culture, shape the Tinglin Garden as a harmonious window for the community, and deliver the Qiong Flower Arts Festival as a high-quality feast for Kunshan cultural and historical heritage.

Time: April 16

Location: Tinglin Garden