[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Northeastern Liaoning province's Xingcheng city has launched a winter tourism festival.

Ten themed programs, including a New Year lantern fair, folk embroidery, calligraphy and photography exhibitions, as well as hot spring and winter swimming experiences, will be staged in the city until February 20.

The festival is part of the local authority's efforts to boost winter culture and tourism development in the region.

At the same time, the Xingcheng government signed an agreement to build a national micro-film shooting facility at the launch ceremony of the festival.