Guilin Rice Noodle Super League ignites culinary frenzy

The first Guilin Rice Noodle Super League, or "fenchao", opened on April 17 at the Guilin Jia Tian Xia Convention and Exhibition Center in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, bringing together culinary competitions, cultural performances, and tourism experiences.

Running through April 20, the event is China's first professional competition and cultural exchange gathering centered on rice noodle culture. It features both professional and amateur contests, with professional categories divided into classic original flavor and creative innovation tracks.

A total of 94 teams from 11 provinces and seven cities within Guangxi are participating.

Regional specialties on display include Mianyang rice noodles from Sichuan, Hainan-style marinated noodles, Guizhou Huaxi beef noodles, Nanchang rice noodles with mixed seasonings, and Hengyang braised noodles.

Local Guilin brands are also prominently featured, showcasing the city's rich noodle-making heritage alongside contemporary innovations.

Beyond the competitions, the event offers intangible cultural heritage experiences, cultural and creative markets, e-commerce livestreaming, and evening performances including ethnic music galas and original music concerts. Folk activities such as antiphonal singing and bamboo pole dancing all add to the festive atmosphere.

The league aims to promote Guilin's specialty industries and boost integrated cultural-tourism development, using a bowl of rice noodles to connect diverse regional flavors and foster cultural exchange.