The annual Qingdao International Beer Festival, renowned as Asia's largest outdoor celebration, began on Friday evening with great enthusiasm, transforming the Shandong coastal city into a vibrant summer carnival.

This year marks the 34th edition of the festival, themed "Qingdao, Ganbei (Cheers) with the World." It features two main venues — the Qingdao West Coast New Area and the Laoshan district.

The Golden Beach Beer City at the West Coast New Area, deemed as the world's largest beer-themed square, spans 80 hectares. It boasts nine beer tents, 30 distinctive beer houses, and offers over 2,200 varieties of beer from around the globe. Among the international brews are China's Tsingtao, the Netherlands' Heineken, Denmark's Carlsberg, Germany's Warsteiner, and Portugal's Super Bock, according to Ma Jinhua, executive chief of the festival's organizing committee.

"We're hosting more than 2,000 events, ranging from arts performances and sports to beer-drinking competitions, light shows, and international cooperation activities," said Ma, who is also head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Qingdao West Coast New Area Work Committee and District Committee.