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The third China-Panzhihua International Rafting Festival will be held in Panzhihua in southwest China's Sichuan Province Dec.7-10, said Sun Gang, deputy director of the China National Tourism Administration.

With the theme of "environmental protection and harmony among nationalities," the festival, which will attract at least 200 participants in 58 teams, is described as one of the "most attractive and adventurous activities" by the National Geographic magazine, said Qin Yizhi, mayor of Panzhihua.

The rafting will be held on the Yangtze River. Participants will compete in a 25-kilometer speed race and a 70-kilometer relay race.

Since it was first held in 2001, the event has attracted more than 95 teams from both China and overseas as well as more than 100,000 tourists, according to Qin.

Located at the juncture of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces in the southwest, Panzhihua is known for its production of vanadium and titanium steel, as well as for abundant natural resources such as coal and nonferrous metals.

"Through the festival, we not only want more people to know Panzhihua's beautiful natural scenery, but more importantly, we try to promote the protection of the Yangtze River," said Qin.

A new airport, built at a cost of 1 billion yuan (US$120m), will open Dec. 6, bringing Panzhihua closer to the rest of China and shortening the travel time from Beijing to Panzhihua from more than 10 hours to just three.