Taizhou shines at Grand Canal expo with heritage, flavors and innovation

The Taizhou pavilion at the 7th Grand Canal Culture and Tourism Expo draws many visitors. [Photo/Taizhou Daily]

The 7th Grand Canal Culture and Tourism Expo was held in Suzhou from Aug 15 to 17, where nearly 40 companies from Taizhou showcased the city's cultural and culinary offerings. From intangible cultural heritage and stage performances to signature breakfast dishes and sports tourism, the Taizhou pavilion drew crowds into an engaging cultural experience.

The morning tea display zone featured a traditional teahouse ambiance, with wooden tables and elegant preparation counters. Masters from Liufang Teahouse demonstrated how to prepare Taizhou's famous tofu shreds, while 300 complimentary servings disappeared in minutes.

The stage brought heritage to life: actors in full costume performed Peking Opera, mesmerizing audiences with graceful water sleeves, while Taixing puppet masters wowed onlookers as nimble, 16-jointed puppets somersaulted and blinked with realistic accuracy.

Sports added a modern twist. Fans enjoyed watching the Taizhou team's incredible goals on a large screen during the Jiangsu Football City League and also tested their own skills in a mini penalty shootout, winning small prizes for their efforts.

Taizhou also held a special promotion session, announcing tourism incentives linked to the provincial soccer league while districts including Hailing, Jiangyan, and Xinghua highlighted their local attractions.

In the intangible heritage section, Taizhou paired its woodcarving craft alongside traditional skills from Xizang's Qushui county, which the city supports through cooperation. Visitors watched artisans demonstrate leatherwork, yak-hair weaving, and incense-making.

The aroma of food drew visitors to the cuisine section. Taizhou's famous delicacies — Jingjiang crab roe soup buns, Taixing wontons, Xinghua smoked pork, and Chenyang village's nine flavors of spiced snails — had long lines of eager tasters.

Blending tradition and innovation, the Taizhou pavilion offered an authentic taste of the city's diverse cultural and tourism appeal.