Chongqing—This year's May Day holiday marked Rongchang's moment in the global spotlight. This district of Chongqing capitalized on its viral "braised goose" fame to drive an unprecedented tourism boom. With over 350,000 visitors on the first day alone, it even turned government offices into a tourist spot.

Rongchang Braised Goose (Photo/iChongqing)

Rongchang rolled out a well-orchestrated campaign to welcome visitors. Free shuttle buses ferried tourists from the high-speed rail station to key attractions like Xiabu (Grass Cloth) Town, Wanling Ancient Town, and the Pottery Village. Xiabu Town, endorsed by tech mogul Zhou Hongyi, saw a 427% surge in visitors, while the Pottery Village's number of visitors skyrocketed 366%, aided by interactive activities like ceramic-making and costume parades.

In a bold move, the Rongchang government opened its canteen to the public, serving local delicacies like braised goose and pork-stuffed pastries. Over 3,000 visitors flocked to the canteen on opening day, with queues stretching beyond the building. The adjacent People's Plaza hosted a youth music festival, while government restrooms were repurposed as photo spots, blurring the line between administration and attraction.

Uncle was feeding visitors with Rongchang braised goose (Photo/Rongchang District)

The Uncle (UNC), who rose to national fame after chasing American influencer Speed, ignited the braised goose craze and became a symbol of grassroots marketing, personally handing out samples to travelers at the highway entrance to Rongchang. Offline sales of braised goose surged by 446%, with popular stores like the flagship location at Lianhua Square facing hours-long lines.

One tourist from Sichuan complained, "A bulk buyer ahead of me grabbed 50 geese, and there wasn’t enough left!" — a vivid testament to the soaring demand.

Iraqi influencer Ahmed Al-Qasoom enjoyed Rongchang blanket noodles (Photo/Rongchang District)

Every move from free transit to government-citizen integration pointed to a single goal: turning a flash of viral fame into lasting prosperity. The goose was just the appetizer — the real feast is Rongchang’s enduring spirit of hospitality.