The 2008 China Shenyang International Tourism Festival will kick off on August 30 with a floats parade covered in flowers.

There will be 23 flower carriages and 29 art troupes from home and abroad in the procession, the Shenyang Evening News reported on Wednesday.

The 40-day long festival has attracted tourism agencies from 11 countries including Switzerland, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Spain, Belgium and Australia to promote their products.

The festival will feature food and beer fairs, a contest for tourist guides and a tourism-themed photograph competition.