The 19th International Beer Festival kicked off in Qingdao’s Beer City in Shandong province on August 15, offering locals and out-of-towners everything from a Beer Drinking Competition to a carnival.

This year’s Beer Festival will showcase new features, according to event organizers, including 102 beer brands from 17 world leading beer makers from 11 countries, a record high for the festival.

With the theme “Cheering for the homeland and with the world” the 16-day festival will hold three series of events—Beer Tasting, a carnival and art performances.

The carnival, an important part of the festival, will introduce two large-scale recreation facilities aimed at building a new entertainment atmosphere.

Public benefit activities will also be carried out during the course of the event, such as offering free tickets to disadvantaged groups.

The annual festival, which started in 1991, occupies first place in the national Top Ten Festivals list and has become a valuable name card of the beautiful coastal city.

(China Daily August 19, 2009)