The float of Taicang makes its debut at the opening parade of Shanghai Tourism Festival on Sept 15. [Photo/taicangdaily.com]

Taicang, located in the southeast of Jiangsu province, made its debut in the opening parade of Shanghai Tourism Festival on Sept 15, being the first county-level city in the country to have a float in the parade.

The Shanghai Tourism Festival was first held in 1990 and has become China's largest tourism festival in terms of scale with an increasing international popularity over the years.

As a main event of the festival, this year's float parade attracted 37 groups from 25 countries and regions, along with 25 themed floats to participate.

The themed float of Taicang featured three main characteristics of the city, displaying the city's charm as the land of "fish and rice", showcasing its deep cultural origins in famed Chinese navigator Zheng He's seven voyages to the Western Seas and the deep business ties with Germany.

"Taicang has enjoyed a stable and long-term relationship with Shanghai and a boost in its tourism for many years now. The debut of the Taicang float in Shanghai is a great achievement," said an official from Taicang Tourism Bureau.