A worker operates on the noodle production line at Chongqing Jingguyuan Food Technology Co Ltd in Dadukou District. (Photo/Xinhua)

Chongqing - For many Chongqing residents, a steaming bowl of Xiaomian, or spicy noodles, marks the beginning of their day. For many tourists from both home and abroad, Xiaomian has also become a must-try dish.

But can Chongqing locals or tourists still enjoy an authentic bowl of Xiaomian when they are away from Chongqing? The answer is yes!

In 2024, Chongqing Xiaomian made a major move toward global expansion. Its pre-packaged products are now available in over 30 countries worldwide.

Jingguyuan Food Technology Co Ltd was the first company in China to be awarded the Chongqing Xiaomian food production license. In 2024, it accelerated its "going global" efforts.

Pointing to the continuous flow of noodles coming off the production line, Yan Chenjuan, the head of the company's e-commerce department, said that the export volume has seen significant growth this year. "This batch will be shipped to Malaysia and Singapore, and European customers are also very interested in Xiaomian. We are keeping contact with them."

An e-commerce host promotes Chongqing noodles at the 6th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade. (Photo/Xinhua)

Fu Yong, President of the Chongqing Xiaomian Industrial Promotion Association and Executive Director and General Manager of Jingguyuan Food Technology Co. Ltd., says, "This year marks a solid step forward in taking Xiaomian global from zero to one." From January to September, the export value reached over 300 million yuan ($41.11 million). The Xiaomian industry will continue expanding, aiming to enter the North American and Australian markets and conduct full-scale operations.

Chongqing has included food and agricultural product processing in its "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system and released an opportunity list for popular products in these areas so as to promote Xiaomian beyond its local borders.

The 2024 Chongqing government work report also specifically highlighted the goal of expanding the industries, including Chongqing Xiaomian.

This year, pre-packaged Xiaomian products have been sold to over 30 countries worldwide, leveraging the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the China-Europe Railway Express.

People enjoy a meal at a hotpot restaurant on a commercial street in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 5, 2022. (Photo/Xinhua)

Another iconic Chongqing dish, hotpot, has also made its mark both domestically and internationally. Chongqing hotpot brands like Liuyishou, Dezhuang, Peijie, and Qinma have gone global, opening more than 200 outlets in over 20 countries and regions worldwide.

"We have over 80 branches overseas, located in countries and regions such as the United States, the UAE, Canada, France, Germany, and Spain," said Liu Mei, Founder of Liuyishou Hotpot.

Liu added that next year, the company plans to accelerate its expansion into the African market and establish a base seasoning processing plant in Spain to better meet the European market's supply chain needs.

Thanks to Chongqing's convenient logistics, not only hotpot and Xiaomian but also other specialty foods, such as sour and hot noodles (suan la fen) and fragrant chicken with chilies (la zi ji), are seizing opportunities to go global.

According to the data from Chongqing Customs, in the first 11 months of this year, the quantity and value of Chongqing's food exports grew by 63.3 percent and 46.4 percent, respectively, with export value exceeding 1.03 billion yuan.

(Guo Xinxin and Zhou Benshuai, reporters from Shangyou News, contributed the Chinese version of this report.)