Chongqing - As the Spring Festival approaches, Chongqing launched the "Love Chongqing New Year Consumption Season, Hot Pot Carnival, and New Year Banquet" on January 16. The event will run until February 12, aiming to boost consumption and energize the local economy.
2025 Love Chongqing New Year Consumption Season Chongqing Hotpot Carnival and New Year Banquet kicked off on January 16, 2025. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce)
The festival offers exciting activities, including 30 top-notch New Year's Eve dinners, hot pot feasts, and creative family banquets. Visitors can enjoy and taste the special dishes on-site, while brands offer booking discounts online and offline.
A unique highlight of the event is a 1,000-square-meter hot pot banquet area featuring a 10-meter-diameter creative-themed hot pot that has become a standout attraction. Visitors can enjoy the signature spicy flavor of Chongqing hot pot at ultra-low prices, capturing the warmth and joy of the season.
The 10-meter diameter creative theme hot pot. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce)
Local chefs from various districts and counties are bringing their culinary skills to the forefront, preparing signature dishes on-site and creating a long table feast of 360 bowls of regional flavors. This allows the public to witness the cooking process and taste the dishes fresh off the stove.
Citizens are tasting smoked sausage. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce)
The festival highlights agricultural specialties and local brands from Nanchuan, Dianjiang, and Qijiang, celebrating rural development and local industries. It also features traditional New Year goods and nostalgic items, bringing back childhood memories and festive cheer.
The festival adds an international touch with popular consumer brands from Uruguay, Belarus, Greece, Italy, and South Korea, offering a unique shopping experience highlighting Chongqing's cosmopolitan appeal.
Malls, neighborhoods, and dining scenes across the city also get in on the action, offering discounts and special deals around reunion banquets to create a festive shopping atmosphere.
"As of December 2024, Chongqing had about 200,000 social catering stores, up 5% from 2023. Hot pot stores accounted for over 20% at around 40,000," said Lu Yi from Meituan. "Hot pot reigns supreme in Chongqing's food and beverage scene."
Lu added that people can search for 'Chongqing New Year Banquet' on the Meituan app to receive coupons.
The Chongqing Hot Pot Journal, which has been in the works for years, was also released at the event. It offers a detailed record of the Chongqing hot pot's history, cultural importance, production methods, international reach, and industry status, providing valuable insights for preserving and promoting hot pot culture.