JINAN, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The 36th Qingdao International Beer Festival opened on Friday evening in the coastal city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, kicking off a 30-day celebration that blends brewing tradition with tech advances and cultural performances.

Photo: Xinhua

Running until Aug. 15, the festival boasts nine beer tents offering more than 2,300 varieties from around the world, including premium craft brews and fruit-flavored beers.

Hosted at Qingdao's Xihai'an (West Coast) New Area, the festival features over 2,000 activities ranging from beer tastings and concerts to trade events and cultural exhibitions.

Notably, the festival is increasingly about experiences as much as drinking. A newly introduced "future beer factory" tent uses robots to greet visitors and perform interactive shows, reflecting China's growing enthusiasm for integrating tech advances into the consumer experience.

A series of international exchange activities to promote cooperation in the global beer industry will also be held.

Qingdao is home to the Tsingtao Brewery, the base of a time-honored beer brand in China. Inaugurated in 1991, the Qingdao International Beer Festival has grown into one of the world's most famous beer festivals.