Opening ceremony of the Binhai New Area Dragon Boat Competition in Tianjin. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Ninghe event also launched the "I Want to Be on the Village Gala" rural cultural talent show at the 460-year-old Lutai Fair, a major cultural and tourism landmark in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

Officials in Ninghe said the district is advancing an integrated development model combining agriculture, culture, sports, study tours, tourism and commerce.