China's first international forest eco-tourism festival promoting natural and healthy traveling opened Wednesday in the country's forest capital, Yichun, of northeastern Heilongjiang Province.

The province boasts a forest coverage rate of 42 percent, and covers the largest area of forest in China. Its northeastern city of Yichun is famous for its unique primitive forest, ice, snow, and water suitable for kayaking.

With more than 50 national and provincial forest parks, Heilongjiang has developed tourism activities like hiking, horse riding, hunting and kayaking and canoeing. Last year, the province reported tourist attendance at 300,000, collecting nearly 50 million yuan of income.

The festival is hosted by the province's tourism administration, forestry administration and the Yichun municipal government. Trade talks will also be held during the event.

(Xinhua 07/19/2001)