The 24th China Fishing Season Festival opens in the coastal county of Xiangshan in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province on Sept 16. [Photo/Ningbo Evening News]

The coastal county of Xiangshan in Ningbo kicked off its annual fishing season festival on Sept 16.

The festival, which is part of the 2021 Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival, marks the start of a new fishing season in Xiangshan, after a four-and-a-half month fishing ban.

Due to Typhoon Chanthu, which brought strong winds and waves in the East China Sea, fishing vessels did not set sail as in previous years from the Shipu fishery port after a traditional ceremony worshipping the sea goddess.

Mayor Qiu Dongyao noted at the opening ceremony that the festival is an annual grand event to promote local tourism and fishing resources.

Ningbo is accelerating the pace of building itself into a national demonstration zone for marine economy development and a world renowned coastal city, Qiu said.

Xiangshan seafood is renowned for having a lighter fishy smell and a more delicious taste as the water of the East China Sea is warm and low in salt content.