A marine food expo will be held from September 23 to 26 in Yantai, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province.

The four-day event has been organized to attract investments, hold trade talks and promote products. The expo is the first multi-functional international communication platform since the Shandong Peninsula economic zone became part of a national strategy for regional development, according to Song Junji, deputy director of the Shandong provincial development and reform committee.

Located on the east coast of the Shandong Peninsula and bordered by Bohai Bay and the Yellow Sea, Yantai is not only well-known for its natural beauty, food and wine, but also as a huge potential player in the marine industry.

The city is ranked as one of the world's top seven coastal grape-growing areas. The peninsula is also the birthplace of China's wine industry. It is now the largest wine production base in China, producing nearly half of the nation's total output.

Yantai has successfully held four International Wine Festivals since 2007, which had attracted more than 3,000 overseas guests from 20 countries and regions.

"This year's wine festival will be held parallel with the marine food expo, which will be a highlight both in tourism and business," said Wang Shiliang, head of Yantai development and reform committee.

By Zhao Ruixue (China Daily Shandong Bureau)

Edited by Hao Nan and Tania Lee