The seventh Huangquqiao Food Culture Carnival officially kicked off at the trade market in Huangquqiao town, Pingluo county, Ningxia Hui autonomous region on the evening of Aug 9. Visitors from various places gathered at the carnival to enjoy the beautiful rural scenery, savor intangible cultural heritage delicacies, and experience the richness of red culture, all in a unique "one-stop" experience filled with food, entertainment, and leisure.

The seventh Huangquqiao Food Culture Carnival officially kicks off at the trade market in Huangquqiao town, Pingluo county, Ningxia, on Aug 9. [Photo/cn.chinadaily.com.cn]

This event, themed "Making Hometown Food, Savoring Tasty Delights", will run for seven days. During this time, a variety of activities will take place, including the "Summer Fun" series, "Singing for Joy" performances, the "Heartwarming Red" ancient town parade, "Agricultural Exchange" product displays, the "I Endorse My Hometown" e-commerce live streaming competition, and large-scale drone shows. These activities aim to enhance Huangquqiao’s influence in the learning, touring and dining sectors.

Irresistible aromas in the food zone attracted crowds of visitors. Stalls of local specialty dishes and agricultural products, such as stir-fried lamb, sugar-coated fried dough cake (tang ma ya), firm tofu, and hyacinth bean jelly (biandou fen), were on the line-up. Masters of intangible cultural heritage demonstrated the making of these traditional foods, greatly enriching visitors' experience.

Visitors savor local delicacies. [Photo/cn.chinadaily.com.cn]

Enterprises and merchants in the specialty agricultural and promotional goods area enthusiastically shared their "famous, special, and premium" products from across Ningxia and surrounding provinces.

Visitors were drawn by the unique delicacies, confirming the charm and popularity of Huangquqiao's food culture. Local officials and residents contributed to the festive atmosphere with cultural performances, fostering unity, progress, harmony and joy. Visitors felt a deep sense of nostalgia as they enjoyed the vibrant performances and the aroma of delicious food.

Visitors enjoy a unique "one-stop" experience filled with food, entertainment, and leisure. [Photo/cn.chinadaily.com.cn]

In addition to the offline activities, online live streaming was also a hit. During the "I Bring Good Goods from Ningxia" 2024 Live E-Commerce Season, visitors on-site were eager to interact in the live streaming, while online viewers were excited to participate. 

"The public has benefited a lot from the integrated online and offline promotional activities. The market vitality was further stimulated and consumption potential unlocked," said Ha Bingbing, deputy director of the Pingluo County Bureau of Commerce and Investment Promotion.

Visitors savor local delicacies. [Photo/cn.chinadaily.com.cn]

Guided by staff from Huangquqiao town, visitors toured the Huangquqiao Red Education Base to experience red culture. They also explored the charm of traditional villages along Digeng Lane, where many engaged with traditional crafts at historic shops like the blacksmith's shop and tofu workshop.

Local officials and residents contribute to the festive atmosphere with cultural performances. [Photo/cn.chinadaily.com.cn]

"We will continue to enhance our village’s appearance, improve industry quality, and optimize grassroots governance. Our goal is to transform our resource advantages into industrial advantages, developing the integrated red culture tourism and specialty food into a leading industry so as to give a strong push to rural revitalization," said Li Tao, Party secretary of Huangquqiao town.