The 12th China (Daojiao) Food Culture Festival and the Greater Bay Area Intangible Cultural Heritage Food Experience Week kicked off on December 31 at the Yuehui Garden in Daojiao Town, Dongguan City, and will last for six days until January 5, 2025. This year's festival, themed "Stylish China, Extraordinary Bay Area," is part of the national "Food Festival" and aims to highlight the integration of food, culture, tourism, intangible heritage, and consumption.

Featuring 11 curated food sections, the festival boasts nearly 300 elegantly designed food stalls, showcasing a diverse array of culinary delights from across the country. The six-day event will also include a variety of engaging activities, creating an immersive experience for visitors and celebrating the rich flavors of Chinese cuisine.

Daojiao Town, recognized as a notable center for Chinese cuisine and a key area in Dongguan's food and beverage industry, has successfully hosted the Food Culture Festival for eleven consecutive years. This year, the festival emphasizes local specialties and incorporates modern explorations of intangible cultural heritage foods from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, opening new avenues for the transformation and upgrading of Daojiao's food industry. The festival aims to promote cultural transmission, tourism engagement, and industrial transformation, ultimately driving consumption and enhancing the local economy.

A key feature of this year's festival is the modernization of intangible cultural heritage foods in the Greater Bay Area. The event includes comprehensive exhibitions detailing the significance, pathways, and representative projects of these culinary traditions, encouraging broader participation in the protection and promotion of intangible cultural heritage. Visitors will have the opportunity to savor unique flavors from various regions, including those from Meizhou, Shantou, Shaoguan, Yangjiang, Shanwei, Yunfu, and Jieyang.

The festival features 11 dedicated food zones with nearly 300 upscale food stalls, along with exciting side events such as a live-streaming sales competition, a Daojiao handmade meatball demonstration, youth talent performances, and a "Top Ten Popular Merchants" selection.

This year's festival promises a rich variety of recreational activities, allowing visitors to enjoy exhibitions, culinary pleasures, and entertainment simultaneously. Returning highlights from last year include popular performances such as Yingge Dance, Tang Dynasty acrobatics, and contemporary music concerts. Additional festivities will include a welcoming parade for the God of Wealth, a scholar procession, Hanfu shows, iron flower displays, drone shows, and cold flame fireworks, creating a festive atmosphere for the New Year celebration.