The sixth annual Chongming Forest Tourism Festival kicked off yesterday at Qianwei Village, giving urbanites the opportunity to experience rural life.

The "Nongjiale" program as it's called, is among the most popular of the activities on offer. Participants travel to a Yingzhou ancient residence in the ecological village to experience what a farmer's daily life was like at the end of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Visitors can tread the waterwheel, turn a millstone and sit in the bridal sedan chair.

In a thatched cottage, local farmers spin, weave and make cotton clothes.

The program is also being performed in two other spots - villages of Yingdong and Lugang - with different activities.

Other events include a fishing competition at the Yingdong fishing village where a museum displays traditional fishing tools.

Lugang, which is known for its crickets, will invite enthusiasts to take part in a competition during the National Day holiday on October 1.

At yesterday's opening, the wives of consuls from 13 countries attended.

"It's so nice to visit the island as it lets us know how the farmers live and work," said Nina Martynenko, wife of the Ukrainian consul general in Shanghai.

"The farmers have done much to build their village and I'm sure the island will become more beautiful."

In addition to sightseeing, tourists can live with the farmers' to experience more of their lives.

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