Quanzhou's Culinary Innovation: Advancing Its Bid for the City of Gastronomy
Major Fairs, Conferences, and Events for Professionals
Since 2021, Quanzhou has consistently hosted key events that foster collaboration and innovation in the gastronomy industry, connecting creators, producers, marketers, and promoters from around the world.
Since 2021, Quanzhou has hosted the "Cross-Straits Agricultural Products Fair"[1][2] for four consecutive years. In 2024, it featured 716 booths, attracted 36,000 visitors (a 37.62% increase), and achieved on-site sales of USD 943,400, marking a 6.6% rise. The event facilitated 853 cooperation agreements worth USD 251 million, a 7.7% increase.
Since 2021, Quanzhou has hosted the "Cross-Straits Food Fair" for four consecutive years. The 2024 edition welcomed 1,202 enterprises from nearly 30 countries, with over 1,000 international buyers from 50 nations. The event generated intended transactions worth USD 2.69 billion, reflecting an 8.22% increase.
At the 2024 "Chinese Culture·Yaji Cultural Salon" gourmet reception held at UNESCO headquarters, over 200 international guests sampled and praised Quanzhou's cuisine.
In 2024, Quanzhou hosted the first "Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Street Food Conference", bringing together nearly 65 experts and scholars alongside 142 enterprises to discuss the preservation and innovation of ICH street food.
Major Festivals and Public Events
Quanzhou has actively engaged local, national, and international audiences through large-scale gastronomy events that celebrate its rich culinary traditions and heritage.
Since 2021, Quanzhou has hosted the "Minnan Food and Lifestyle Carnival"[1][2] annually, showcasing ICH local customs and traditional food. The event has welcomed over 450,000 participants from more than 10 countries, providing both residents and international tourists with a deep cultural immersion.
Since 2023, Quanzhou has organized the "Ginger Duck Creative Culinary Contest" and the "Minnan Women Chef Culinary Skills Showcase", drawing 560 food enthusiasts, young people, and women to highlight regional culinary excellence.
In 2023, the city hosted the "Intangible Cultural Heritage Shopping Festival", featuring 53 heritage businesses, 32 inheritors, and 13 time-honored brands showcasing tea, ceramics, and street foods. A key highlight was the Traditional Tea Processing Techniques and Associated Social Practices in China (including Quanzhou's Oolong Tea Processing Techniques) being inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The event engaged over 10,000 visitors, both domestic and international.
In 2024, the "China (Quanzhou) Silk Road Street Foods Festival" gathered 145 food brands and showcased 512 signature street foods, attracting over 400,000 participants from home and abroad.
Key Collaborative Projects in Gastronomy
Quanzhou has launched innovative programs that integrate government, private enterprises, creators, civil society, and academia to enhance its culinary heritage.
The "Local Specialty Themed Banquet Development" Project: By combining traditional culture with local signature dishes, agricultural products, culinary skills, and intangible cultural heritage elements, Quanzhou has successfully introduced 12 themed banquets over the past two years, offering an enriched gastronomic experience.
Quanzhou's dynamic engagement in gastronomy-related events, festivals, and collaborative projects underscores its commitment to culinary creativity and cultural preservation, reinforcing its bid for the City of Gastronomy designation.
