Chongqing- The northeastern county of Wuxi held a grand opening for the 2023 Grilled Fish Cultural Festival on June 19, when enthusiastic visitors numbering in the tens of thousands gathered outside Daning Ancient Town, set beneath stunning cliff-faces and gushing river waters, alongside which the banks were packed with tables serving this iconic dish amid the festive atmosphere.
Located on the upper reaches of the Daning River and the southern slopes of the central Daba Mountains, Wuxi County is best known for its scenic scenery and tourism culture in Southwest China’s Chongqing.
The 2023 Wuxi Grilled Fish Cultural Festival was officially declared open on June 19 to great fanfare (Photograph/Wuxi County Grilled Fish Industry Development Headquarters)
Peng Heliang, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, talked about how the tradition of grilled fish in Wuxi traces back millennia and that fine locally sourced ingredients combined with unique culinary methods have won the admiration of consumers far and wide.
“The Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce will support the Wuxi grilled fish industry through various means, including brand development, investment promotion, and marketing strategies,” Peng added.
Members of the public, numbering tens of thousands gathered excitedly outside Daning Ancient Town to experience the festival amid beautiful surroundings. (Photograph/Wuxi County Grilled Fish Industry Development Headquarters)
The grilled fish industry in Wuxi has now established a network of supporting organizations to regulate standards, conduct product research, and design a creative brand image.
As a result, there are presently more than 13,000 Wuxi grilled fish restaurants nationwide, and the special experience of consuming this signature dish beside the Daning River has become an internet sensation.
Once the festival was declared open, the public was treated to a colorful variety show, with uniquely choreographed performances featuring song, dance, poetry, and fashion walks themed on local grilled fish heritage.
For example, the branded song and dance routine named “Original Flavours of Wuxi” enthralled the audience by recreating the profound history behind this dish, officially recognized as an intangible cultural heritage at the municipal level back in 2019.
iChongqing reporter James Alexander (R) receives an official “Chief Tasting Officer” award during the opening ceremony for the 2023 Wuxi Grilled Fish Cultural Festival. (Photograph/Luo Jia)
In addition to feasts of grilled fish, the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival will offer the chance to witness traditional races on the Daning River, while live concerts will be held each Saturday evening in Daning Ancient Town through July 29, meaning that summer in Wuxi offers visitors top delicacies, fine scenery, and a lively atmosphere set away from the big city.
Guests at the opening ceremony included Chinese internet celebrities, graduate students from 32 universities in Chongqing, and local high school representatives fresh after taking their final “Gaokao” examinations. Meanwhile, a contingent of overseas students, and a “Chief Tasting Officer” award, conferred to an attendee from the United Kingdom gave the event a more international atmosphere.