Known as the "Hometown of Hui Cuisine," Huangshan city – located in East China's Anhui province – has witnessed impressive growth in its culinary industry in recent years.
The Hui cuisine of the region is one of China's eight famous cuisines. Last year, the output value of the Hui cuisine industry exceeded 21 billion yuan ($2.96 billion), with 10 companies achieving annual sales topping 100 million yuan.
This thriving sector has also provided employment opportunities for over 60,000 individuals.
To promote domestic demand, stabilize employment and increase incomes, Huangshan city has rolled out a raft of measures.
The policy called "Measures to Promote the High-Quality Development of Hui Cuisine Industry in Huangshan City (Trial)" is widely said to have been instrumental in driving the industry's growth.
What's more, the city has successfully attracted investments in the green food (precooked dishes) sector – bolstering the entire value chain of Hui cuisine.
Recognized for its culinary excellence, four restaurants in Huangshan have been ranked among China's top 500. One of them – Huishang Guli – has consistently secured a position in the top 100 catering enterprises nationwide. To top it off, Hui cuisine master Zhang Gendong emerged as the champion in the Chinese cooking category at the national culinary skills competition.
Moving forwards, plans are for Huangshan to organize a series of events, including the Hui Cuisine Innovation Competition, Hui Cuisine Ingredients Exhibition and Sales Fair, as well as the Food (Snacks) Market.
These will extend throughout the year and travel to a slew of cities beyond Huangshan.
Moreover, the "Hui Cuisine International Table Tour" is set to appeal to foodies in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.
With its thriving Hui cuisine sector and continued efforts to promote culinary excellence, Huangshan city is viewed to be cementing its position as a culinary destination that is driving economic growth in the region.