The 2011 China International Culture and Tourism Festival kicked off over the weekend.

The 2011 China International Culture and Tourism Festival kicked off over the weekend.

The 2011 China International Culture and Tourism Festival kicked off over the weekend. The annual event is also known as the Kunming Carnival. This year, the Yunnan Nationalities Village attracted visitors from all corners of the world.

The dazzling flower-themed events include singing and dancing by various ethnic groups, a fashion show and a beauty contest.

The ladies are dressed in garments decorated with eight flowers best known in Yunnan Province. The contestants threw petals to the audience, and in return the audience sent roses to their favorite beauty.

The water surface of the pools in Yunnan Nationalities Village is covered with petals in all colors, looking like a sea of flowers.

The refreshing pool was simply too irresistible for one enthusiastic group of young men.

During the three-day Carnival, tourists can experience various kinds of events representing 25 ethnic groups in Yunnan Province. Some highlights include a Water-Sprinkling Festival and ancestor worship ceremony. People here say, every year the Kunming Carnival turns the city into a "sea of happiness."