Hot air balloons crowd the skies over Pingtan

Hundreds of colorful balloons filled the skies above Pingtan, Fujian province, as the city's first hot air balloon fiesta got underway on April 29.

Hot air balloons illuminate the night sky during the air balloon fiesta in Pingtan, Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The high-flying festival is offering local residents and visitors the chance to take off from famous Pingtan attractions including Shipaiyang, Haitan Ancient City, Taiwan Aoqian Town and Tannan Bay, and see the island city from a new perspective.

A splendid launch ceremony for the fiesta was held on the city's Longfengtou Beach on April 29, where a series of performances themed on local marine culture created a fantastic blue sea world for the audience.

A splendid launch ceremony for Pingtan's first hot air balloon fiesta is held in the city's Longfengtou beach on April 29. [Photo provided to chinadaily,com.cn]

A series of concerts are also scheduled to be held on the Longwangtou beach from May 6 to 7, which are sure to give the festival a second lift-off.