A marine tourism carnival will be launched in Xiamen on Jan 8 to promote Fujian province's marine attractions and celebrate 2013, which has been named China's Maritime Tourism Year by the National Tourism Administration.

During the carnival, about 10 events will take place in cities across the province, including folk performances, exhibitions of marine tourism-related topics, workshops, and sports ranging from scuba diving to sailing.

Boasting vast marine resources and a rich marine culture, East China's Fujian province is home to several former vital ports of the Maritime Silk Road and Gulangyu, one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.