Tianyi Pavilion, the oldest private library still in existence in Asia, is located in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: nbfb0574]

The 2020 Ningbo Tourism Festival opens in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province on Aug 31, according to an announcement at a government press conference. 

The festival, which is slated to run until the end of October, consists of 10 major activities.

In September, a market featuring culture and tourism products form countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative will be set up in Dongqian Lake Tourism Resort.

Local cuisine will also be a highlight. A total of 100 local cuisines and 100 restaurants will be selected to be displayed at the 2020 Maritime Silk Road Culture and Travel Expo, which is slated to be held in the city from Sept 25 to 27.

The annual session of the Mainland Study Tour Alliance will be held in Ningbo from Oct 28 to 30. Its member units from 24 provinces and municipalities and representatives from study tour organizations in the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao will be invited to participate. 

Meanwhile, Ningbo will ramp up efforts to attract tourists from the Yangtze River Delta and improve the city's profile by launching promotional events on video-sharing platforms such as Douyin and Kuaishou.

Travel agents from 16 major cities in the delta will be organized to carry out an on-site trip to Ningbo and purchase travel products.

On Oct 17, local residents will be able to tour scenic spots and cultural sites at a 50-percent discount or free of charge. The city's star hotels, homestays and rural tourism scenic spots will also launch preferential policies to attract visitors.