The Beijing Ocean & Beach Carnival celebrated its fourth birthday over the weekend when an opening ceremony was held at Chaoyang Park, featuring Brazilian samba dancers.

The Carnival is the park's main marketing program in summer. It was previously the competition ground for beach volleyball at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Since that year, Chaoyang Park and Beijing Television Station has made the beach carnival an annual event, offering visitors fun in the water and sand. The carnival is expected to run until Sept 2.

This year, besides summer items such as swimming and sand castle building, the organizers will also prepare ocean animal performances, samba dancing and clown shows, water skiing, beach babe (beauty) contests, and chances to see Beijing Guo'an soccer and Beijing Jinyu basketball players. A huge LED screen shows sporting contests.

Prices are 80 yuan ($12.70) on workdays, 50 yuan for night tickets and 120 yuan on weekends and holidays.