Ethnic Korean performers give a show in Beijing to promote the upcoming Northeast Asian Culture, Tourism and Food Week, which will be held in the Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture in China's Jilin province from Sept 3 to 8. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

Northeast Asia's food, intangible heritage and folk performances will take center stage in the ethnic Korean autonomous prefecture of Yanbian in China's Jilin province from Sept 3 to 8.

Yanbian aspires to become a leisure destination, featuring ethnic Korean culture

The Northeast Asian Culture, Tourism and Food Week, which is hosted by Jilin's culture and tourism department and Yanbian's government, will feature 10 programs for participants from 36 ethnic groups from around China, who will also invited to present their cultures at the event.

"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China's founding, and the beginning of cultural and tourism integration," says Zhang Yuzhen, a senior official with Yanbian's culture and tourism bureau.

ALSO READ: Where cabbage is king

"So, hosting this weeklong program has special meaning to us. We hope it'll attract more visitors to experience Yanbian's charm."

Yanbian aspires to become a leisure destination, featuring ethnic Korean culture.

The ethnically diverse autonomous region is near China's border with Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Ethnic Korean performers give a show in Beijing to promote the upcoming Northeast Asian Culture, Tourism and Food Week, which will be held in the Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture in China's Jilin province from Sept 3 to 8. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

It's home to 25 ethnic groups, including Koreans, Mongolians and Hui, and is celebrated as the cradle of the Manchu ethnicity and their ancestors, the Sushen people.

"People in Yanbian love rice, ginger soup and pickled vegetables, and cold noodles and rice cakes are ethnic Koreans' favorites," Zhang says.

The prefecture is also a summer getaway since temperatures hover around 22 C from June to August.

The Changbai Mountain nature reserve, the Tumen River and the former site of the ancient Bohai Kingdom (698-926) are must-sees for visitors.

READ MORE: A man of culinary import

The prefecture has agreed upon strategic cooperation with China Youth Travel Service, which will tap its cultural and tourism resources to develop more products and services for travelers, the travel agency's vice-president Xu Xi says.

yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn