The annual Shanghai Tourism Festival will open on Sept 15 and run until Oct 6, the city's tourism administration said on Sept 11.

The annual event will see more travel companies participate than ever before, according to Dao Shuming, the city's tourism director.

"A total of 42 tourist spots and 16 hotels will offer discounts during the festival," he said.

Dao also said that tourists may also expect new entertainment, such as fishing events in Qingpu and Jinshan, two suburban districts.

"Two Pudong-based touring bus lines will open to the public on Sept 16, linking tourist spots from both sides of the Huangpu River," Dao said.

Various routes, including half-day, one-day and two-day tours, will be available.

In the first seven months of this year, Shanghai has welcomed 3.38 million foreign tourists, an increase of 3.2 percent compared with the same period last year.