03:36Hundreds of boats were seen leaving the harbour along the Beibu Gulf as Fangchenggang began the annual Fishing Festival on Friday, marking the start of the fishing season.
"I hope to have a big harvest and catch enough fish to fill the cabin and return home," said one of the fishermen Zhang Guangxing. "We will go to the waters near Weizhou Island in Beihai and expect to catch over 1,000 pounds of seafood."
Footage features boats of various sizes sailing from the local port while the locals are shown putting on traditional performances with coloured smoke.
Deputy Director of local Culture, Radio, Television, Sports and Tourism Bureau Lan Jingwen said that the festival had become an 'important brand' and was "playing a very important role" in tourism.
"Local fishermen have always had the custom of rushing to the sea and offering sacrifices to the sea," he explained. "Since 2018, we have been holding this … as the Fishing Festival, which has now become an important cultural and tourism brand in Fangchenggang."
According to the local media reports, fishermen cast off from Qisha port at 12:00 local time (4:00 GMT).
This year Beibu Gulf Fishing Festival’s programme encompasses a market, coastal carnival and ASEAN-region exhibitions. The festival is held from August 16-22.
Fishing is off limits in the South China Sea for three and a half months over the summer, as part of sustainability and conservation efforts. Fishing festivals, symbolising the beginning of the new season, date back thousands of years.
All aboard! Hundreds of boats cast off as Fangchenggang celebrates Fishing Festival, start of season
Hundreds of boats were seen leaving the harbour along the Beibu Gulf as Fangchenggang began the annual Fishing Festival on Friday, marking the start of the fishing season.
"I hope to have a big harvest and catch enough fish to fill the cabin and return home," said one of the fishermen Zhang Guangxing. "We will go to the waters near Weizhou Island in Beihai and expect to catch over 1,000 pounds of seafood."
Footage features boats of various sizes sailing from the local port while the locals are shown putting on traditional performances with coloured smoke.
Deputy Director of local Culture, Radio, Television, Sports and Tourism Bureau Lan Jingwen said that the festival had become an 'important brand' and was "playing a very important role" in tourism.
"Local fishermen have always had the custom of rushing to the sea and offering sacrifices to the sea," he explained. "Since 2018, we have been holding this … as the Fishing Festival, which has now become an important cultural and tourism brand in Fangchenggang."
According to the local media reports, fishermen cast off from Qisha port at 12:00 local time (4:00 GMT).
This year Beibu Gulf Fishing Festival’s programme encompasses a market, coastal carnival and ASEAN-region exhibitions. The festival is held from August 16-22.
Fishing is off limits in the South China Sea for three and a half months over the summer, as part of sustainability and conservation efforts. Fishing festivals, symbolising the beginning of the new season, date back thousands of years.
Hundreds of boats were seen leaving the harbour along the Beibu Gulf as Fangchenggang began the annual Fishing Festival on Friday, marking the start of the fishing season.
"I hope to have a big harvest and catch enough fish to fill the cabin and return home," said one of the fishermen Zhang Guangxing. "We will go to the waters near Weizhou Island in Beihai and expect to catch over 1,000 pounds of seafood."
Footage features boats of various sizes sailing from the local port while the locals are shown putting on traditional performances with coloured smoke.
Deputy Director of local Culture, Radio, Television, Sports and Tourism Bureau Lan Jingwen said that the festival had become an 'important brand' and was "playing a very important role" in tourism.
"Local fishermen have always had the custom of rushing to the sea and offering sacrifices to the sea," he explained. "Since 2018, we have been holding this … as the Fishing Festival, which has now become an important cultural and tourism brand in Fangchenggang."
According to the local media reports, fishermen cast off from Qisha port at 12:00 local time (4:00 GMT).
This year Beibu Gulf Fishing Festival’s programme encompasses a market, coastal carnival and ASEAN-region exhibitions. The festival is held from August 16-22.
Fishing is off limits in the South China Sea for three and a half months over the summer, as part of sustainability and conservation efforts. Fishing festivals, symbolising the beginning of the new season, date back thousands of years.