The world islands festival started on the nation's most famous island Cheju Saturday for a 30-day run with a parade on the sea, a port entry ceremony and boat-launched fireworks.

The venue of the "World Festival for Island Cultures-Jeju 2001 (WOFIC)" is the 330,000-square-meter Ora Resort Complex.

According to the WOFIC Organizing Committee, 570 performers from 35 islands and cities scattered over 27 nations participate in the festival entitled "From Islands to the World!"

Participating islands include Ha Long Bay from Vietnam, Okinawa from Japan, Hainan from China, Sakhalin from Russia, Marianas and Hawaii from the United States, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, the Marshall Islands, Puerto Rico, the
Bahamas, Chiloe and Easter Island from Chile, Sardegna from Italy, Mallorca from Spain and Vancouver Island from Canada.

The sister ties of Cheju are also participating. Among them are Shizuoka from Japan, Shanghai, Dalian and Laizhou from China and Santa Monica from the United States. Mongolia and Brazil areother special guests.

The 28 performing troupes and 12 exhibitions fall into eight categories: preliminary events, official events, participatory events and experiences, indoor exhibitions, outdoor events, area performances, special events and supplementary events.