China's premier sailing city. Ju Chuanjiang / China Daily

Jet skiing on the Yellow Sea. Wang Qian / China Daily

Visitors to the Cangzhou navy frigate docked at the Olympic Sailing Center. Dai Yan / China Daily

World-class yachts are now a common sight at Jiaozhou Bay in Qingdao. Ju Chuanjiang / China Daily

The Qingdao International Marine Festival kicked off on July 24 at the Olympic Sailing Center with colorful activities that turned the coastal city into "a sea of joy", said the event's organizer.

"The marine festival is a way for Qingdao to communicate and connect with the world," Xia Geng, the mayor of Qingdao told China Daily.