The 2020 Qingdao International Sailing Week and Qingdao International Marine Festival kicked off on Aug 8 in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province.

The 2020 Qingdao International Sailing Week and Qingdao International Marine Festival kicks off on Aug 8 in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During the opening ceremony, the municipal sports bureaus of Qingdao, Yantai, Weifang, Weihai, Rizhao, Dongying and Binzhou signed a contract to establish the Shandong Peninsula Sailing City Alliance.

The Qingdao Major International Sailing Events (Festival) Organizing Committee also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Shandong Port Group to host the Shandong Peninsula Sailing Race series.

Various sailing competitions will be held during the event. [Photo/qingdaonews.com]

Global organizations such as the World Union of Olympic Cities and the International Sailing Federation and Qingdao's sister and cooperative cities have sent their well-wishes for the event through videos.

According to the organizers, nearly 40 activities will take place during this year's event, including sailing competitions, cultural exchanges, match-making sessions, fitness activities and tourism promotions.

The Shandong Peninsula City Sailing Race, the Coastal City Sailing Race, the "Langya Cup" Sailing Race and the "Qingdao - Shenzhen" Twin Cities Sailing Race will be held for the first time this year.

Concerts, ocean exhibitions, short video competitions, marine-themed lectures and land-sea cruise carnivals will also take place during the festival.

The event will end on Aug 16.

Qingdao is considered China's sailing capital and has a thriving water sports industry. [Photo/qingdaonews.com]

Qingdao boasts a spectacular oceanfront playground for all kinds of water sports along its 863-kilometer shoreline. [Photo/qingdaonews.com]