Fresh-pressed rice noodle carnival held in Dahua

Nearly 10,000 locals and tourists flocked to a vibrant food and folk culture event in Shuangpai village of Dahua Yao autonomous county this spring, all centered on the time-honored craft of making fresh-pressed rice noodles.

Thousands of people taste the fresh-pressed rice noodles together. [Photo/Guangxi Daily]

The celebration blended noodle-making competitions, folk games and interactive experiences, filling the banks of the Hongshui River with a sense of excitement.

Local craftspeople, restaurant owners and food lovers competed in a rice noodle-making contest, showing off their skills in pressing, cooking and seasoning. Contestants kept traditional methods alive while creating innovative flavors like fish and jasmine rice noodles, with judges scoring entries on taste, texture and aroma. Top local noodle shops claimed gold and special gold awards in the competition.

Famed rice noodle maker Huang Tianling traveled to the event and praised Dahua's noodles for their authentic, rich and tangy traditional taste. A senior culinary judge from Guangxi also commended the contestants' skills, saying they had the potential to excel in higher-level competitions across the region and country.

Visitors enjoyed a host of fun activities: a large group tasting of hot rice noodles, exciting noodle-eating competitions, and the chance to try their hands at pressing noodles and grinding rice. Dragon and lion dances, Hanfu shows, and rural games like chicken catching and rice carrying added to the joy, with farm produce fairs and online livestreams also drawing attention.

A volleyball tournament held at the county's sports center alongside the main event boosted the celebration's reach, with livestreams and short video campaigns expanding its online influence. Local officials revealed that more cultural and food events are planned in Dahua this year – part of efforts to share the county's unique rural and culinary charm with more visitors.