Shekou food cultural festival appeals to crowds

Milana Mitrofanova appeared pleased looking at the wind bell crafted from interwoven bamboo strips and a handmade brooch she created under the guidance of a local artisan at the Shekou Taste 2024 Food Cultural Festival in Shekou yesterday afternoon.

Milana Mitrofanova (2nd L) makes a ring bell at the handicraft-making segment of the Shekou food cultural festival at Wanxia Center in Shekou yesterday afternoon. Photos by Wei Jie unless stated otherwise

“This is a lot of fun,” said Mitrofanova, a postgraduate student majoring in international Chinese education at Shenzhen University. “I totally enjoy myself this afternoon. It took me a whole hour to make the wind bell, carefully weaving the strips of different colors to make sure they wouldn’t unravel when cut into a circular shape.”

The art of bamboo weaving is recognized as an intangible cultural heritage in Guilin’s Longsheng County in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is one of the DIY experiences at the handicraft-making segment that drew most expat and local visitors like Mitrofanova and Daniel from Belarus at the food cultural festival. 

Visitors line up in front of the booths to taste the delectable treats yesterday evening.

“I also had the long-table feast, and some of the dishes, particularly the pork ones, I think, were absolutely delicous,” said Daniel, who preferred not to share his family name. The long-table banquet served traditional dishes and specialities of Longsheng County, such as stuffed tofu, five-color glutinous rice and Longsheng oil tea.

A woman in traditional Yao ethnic costume serves at the long-table feast yesterday. Courtesy of Shekou Subdistrict Office

Before the long-table feast, two enchanting songs performed by Guangzhou-based Ukrainian singer Anna Chanka kickstarted the food cultural festival, organized by the Shekou Subdistrict Office. The opening ceremony also featured captivating performances of Hakka songs sung by Shekou villagers and folk dances by Longsheng artists.

Anna Chanka sings at the opening ceremony of the Shekou food cultural festival yesterday.

Commencing yesterday at the Wanxia Center, the three-day Shekou food cultural festival features more than 30 booths offering a wide array of delectable treats that have become synonymous with Shekou among Shenzheners. 

Expats visit the booth showcasing intricate batik techniques of the Yao ethnic group in Longsheng.

One of the main attractions at the Wanxia Center was a cultural heritage exhibition showcasing the Yao ethnic culture and their traditional costume from Longsheng. Sava Tomoiaga of Romanian who has lived in Shenzhen since 1998 was particularly fascinated by the intricate batik techniques of the Yao ethnic group in Longsheng, renowned for their vibrant red hues.

A local resident tries on a traditional Yao ethnic costume. Courtesy of Shekou Subdistrict Office

The culinary extravaganza also appeals to residents from other districts of Shenzhen traveling to Shekou. A young woman came all the way from Longgang District to visit the festival with her friends. “I’ve heard so much about the mouthwatering food in Shekou. I figured why not take the chance to indulge in these delicacies all in one occasion, so here I am,” said the woman, who identified herself as Zhou.

The food cultural festival continues to delight visitors through tomorrow, promising more culinary delights and cultural experiences to enjoy.