Two girls enjoy the hot spring in Wendeng, Shandong Province, in this undated photo. [dzwww.com]

The International Hot Spring Festival was officially launched today in Wendeng, Shandong Province.

The event serves as a platform for 200 industry insiders from China, Russia, Japan and South Korea to share information on the hot spring cultures of their respective countries, exchange experiences in spa tourism and explore the industry's future development.

Themed seminars and forums will be held during the four-day festival. Experts will discuss the differences between hot spring culture in Europe and Asia, Japanese and Korean achievements in the field, global development trends, and the marketing strategies of China's hot spring industry.

Renowned for its auto parts industry, Wendeng is now working to develop tourism. The city, which owns five of the 13 hot springs in Jiaodong Peninsula, is taking advantage of its rich hot spring resources to attract investment to develop the area.

In 2006, Wendeng registered the title "Capital of Hot Springs" at the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry & Commerce. So far, it has attracted investments worth 4 billion yuan, or about 700 million US dollars.

World-class hot spring resorts such as Tianmu, Huleitang, and Tangbo cater to domestic and international travelers.

The municipal government plans to build a leisure and recreation center based around the city's high-quality hot springs. An expert from Russia thinks the city has great potential in the hot spring industry. If well developed and explored, the spa industry in Wendeng could compare to those on the international arena.

(CRI September 26, 2008)