Shanghai Daily news

Workers decorate a float.

Every year, Shanghai puts her best face forward for the Tourism Festival and this year is no exception.
The 2004 Shanghai Tourism Festival starts tomorrow night and runs until October 6, presenting the best Shanghai for domestic and international tourists. At 9pm tomorrow, a grand carnival will be held on Nanjing Road E. with performances by movie stars including Kenny Bee, Edwin Siu and Chen Kun.
Beginning at 7:30pm on Sunday, there'll be plenty of offerings at the opening pageant in the downtown area, including a float parade, art performance and carnival. In addition to the 19 Chinese floats, six foreign floats from France, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines will participate in the parade along a 2-kilometer stretch of Huaihai Road, between Xizang to Shaanxi roads. Another highlight of the opening parade is the amazing Peking Opera performance.
More than 50 performers from the China Peking Opera House from Beijing will show their amazing skills. The group was popular earlier this year when they performed in Paris. There's also the fantastic tricks of Sichuan Opera -- ``bianlian'' (changing facial masks) and ``penhuo'' (spitting fire). The climax involves 30 performing groups from China, the United States, France and Italy.
If you're feeling international, enjoy the French brass music show and dancing performances from South Africa, Malaysia, Russia and Thailand.

Grand carnival
Date: September 18, 9pm
Venue: Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall Tel: 6328-7413

Opening pageant and float parade
Date: September 19, 7:30pm
Venue: Huaihai Road, from Xizang to Shaanxi roads
Tel: 6439-1818 ext 2606