The Third Laibin French Carnival, part of the on-going French Cultural Year in China, opened Saturday in Laibin in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Local residents, clad in their holiday best, thronged downtown Yingbin Square, bringing a festive atmosphere. All streets and alleys in the city were decorated with banners and colorful flags.     

Georges Dairin, Mayor of Dunkirk, France, appeared dressed as a woman. "Please allow me to give a warm kiss to all of the gentlemen here, and wish you all a happy afternoon," he said.

The dress-up parade, the most characteristic part of the carnival, started after his humorous words.

The carnival, with a theme of "friendship, cultural exchange and revitalization of Laibin," attracted tens of thousands of spectators who lined the streets to watch performances by local and foreign troupes. Locals frequently invited French guests for photos.

Laibin, with a population of 2.45 million, has beautiful scenery and unique ethnic culture. The two previous carnivals were initiated by the staff of a French company in Laibin. The local government decided to turn it into a regular cultural event in future.

A Chinese folk performance and a cocktail party were held this evening.

A commodity fair and a business bidding fair that opened Saturday will last for a couple of days, the organizer said.
 
(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2005)