Core Insights - The article discusses the phenomenon of "stinky" foods across different cultures, exploring why these foods have gained acceptance and popularity despite their strong odors [1][3]. Group 1: Commonalities and Differences in Stinky Foods - Many foods known for their strong odors, such as stinky fish and fermented products, have a commonality in that they were historically developed due to food scarcity and preservation needs [3][5]. - The acceptance of these foods varies by culture, influenced by geographical and social factors, showcasing the diversity of culinary practices [3][6]. Group 2: Cultural Acceptance and Globalization - The spread of "stinky" foods has been facilitated by globalization, which has led to a greater openness to diverse culinary experiences among people from different backgrounds [5][6]. - The unique flavors of stinky foods, such as stinky fish and fermented tofu, are increasingly recognized and appreciated by international diners, reflecting a broader cultural exchange [6][7]. Group 3: Role of Stinky Foods in Cultural Understanding - Stinky foods serve as cultural symbols that can enhance understanding and appreciation between different cultures, as they are tied to local climates, historical changes, and community characteristics [7]. - As Chinese cuisine gains more recognition globally, foods like stinky fish are transitioning from being mere curiosities to becoming integral parts of the culinary landscape appreciated by a wider audience [7].

Core Viewpoint - The Shantou exhibition group has successfully captured attention at the 2025 Global High-end Food and Quality Agricultural Products Expo in Shenzhen, showcasing the region's unique culinary offerings and agricultural achievements [2][3]. Group 1: Exhibition Highlights - The Shantou exhibition features a vibrant display of local culture, including traditional fishing songs and tea ceremonies, which attract many visitors [12][20]. - The exhibition area showcases a variety of high-quality agricultural products and specialty foods, reflecting the fruitful results of Shantou's modern agricultural development [23][24]. - Popular products include seafood balls and beef balls from Shantou City Guotai Food Co., Ltd., which draw large crowds for tasting [28][29]. Group 2: Featured Products - The "Baolou Ginger" series from Shantou City Hengpin Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. has become a popular choice among visitors, especially with the cooling weather [33][34]. - Fresh and vibrant fruits such as oil olives and lemons from Shantou City Nanguo Agricultural Co., Ltd. are highlighted for their quality [36][37]. - The unique "Luhou Lei Tea," recognized as an intangible cultural heritage, attracts significant attention as visitors engage in the traditional preparation process [40][41]. Group 3: Marine Resources - The Shantou New Sheng Aquaculture Co., Ltd. showcases live lobsters and purple sea urchins, emphasizing the region's rich marine resources and quality seafood capabilities [47][48]. - Long queues form at the booth of Lufeng City Jurun Ecological Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., where visitors eagerly await to taste sweet sweet potatoes and authentic Shantou rice noodles [52][53]. Group 4: Marketing and Engagement - The booth of Shantou City Fenglong Rice Industry Co., Ltd. features enthusiastic live streaming to promote the appeal of Shantou's high-quality rice to consumers nationwide [55][56].

Core Viewpoint - The 2025 National Golden Chef Dish Display and Exchange Invitation Competition officially commenced on October 17, showcasing nearly 500 culinary elites from across China, highlighting regional culinary cultures and innovative cooking techniques [1] Group 1: Event Overview - The competition is a key professional event for the Chinese Chef Festival, featuring a vibrant atmosphere as chefs present their signature dishes [1] - Dishes reflecting regional characteristics are being showcased, attracting admiration from attendees who are eager to appreciate and photograph the culinary creations [1] Group 2: Featured Dishes - Wang Yaorong, general manager of Xiyuan Xirong Catering in Taiyuan, presented the innovative dish "Vinegar Pepper Yellow River Carp," which utilizes high-quality carp from the Yellow River and traditional Shanxi vinegar, showcasing Shanxi's culinary culture [1] - The cooking method for "Vinegar Pepper Yellow River Carp" emphasizes the importance of fresh ingredients and meticulous techniques, ensuring the fish retains its tenderness while absorbing the flavors of the sauce [1] - The "Braised Taihu Lamb" from Huzhou, Zhejiang, created by chef Shen Jinliang, is made from the waist and belly meat of Taihu lamb, using traditional techniques and has been recognized as a five-star gold medal dish in a previous competition [1][2] Group 3: Cooking Techniques - The preparation of "Braised Taihu Lamb" involves a seemingly simple method that requires only lamb soy sauce, emphasizing slow cooking over a fire for approximately three hours to achieve a tender and rich flavor [2] - The detailed cooking process ensures the dish is "tender but not mushy, rich but not greasy," highlighting the craftsmanship involved in traditional Chinese cooking [2]

Group 1 - The third Guizhou Province Consumer Goods Expo will take place from September 9 to 13, 2025, at the China (Guiyang) International Wine City, featuring a theme of "Gather Global Fine Wines, Taste Guizhou Flavors" with 200 exhibition booths and an area of 15,000 square meters [1] - The expo will showcase a variety of domestic and international quality alcoholic beverages, including baijiu, wine, craft beer, and spirits, allowing visitors to experience unique wine cultures from around the world [3][6] - The event will also highlight Guizhou's specialty foods, offering a culinary feast that includes local dishes and snacks, along with live cooking demonstrations by renowned chefs to enhance consumer engagement with the region's food culture [6][8] Group 2 - A series of engaging activities will be held during the expo, including live performances by popular singers and bartending shows, creating a lively atmosphere for attendees [8] - The expo aims to promote consumption upgrades and industry development by providing a platform for alcoholic beverage and food companies to showcase their brands and expand their market channels [10][12] - The event will facilitate cross-industry collaboration between the beverage and food sectors, encouraging resource sharing and exploring new paths for industry growth, thereby injecting new momentum into Guizhou's consumption upgrade and industrial development [12][14]

Core Points - The 35th Hong Kong Book Fair is themed "Culinary Culture and Future Life," featuring over 620 cultural activities and attracting a large number of readers and book merchants [1] - This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War, with a special exhibition area dedicated to historical literature [2][4] - The fair showcases a variety of food-related books and cultural exhibitions, emphasizing the connection between food and reading as cultural carriers [4][6] Group 1: Historical Significance - The book fair includes a special section highlighting works like "Kao Shan" and "Xian Jing San Yue Ji," which reflect the historical significance of the Anti-Japanese War [2] - The "Kowloon and Hong Kong Brigade Chronicle" is presented as a comprehensive historical record of the Kowloon and Hong Kong Brigade, the only organized resistance force during the Japanese occupation [2] - Lectures related to the Anti-Japanese theme, such as the one celebrating the 90th anniversary of the "March of the Volunteers," have garnered significant reader participation [2][3] Group 2: Culinary Culture - The fair features a focus on culinary literature, with various food-related books and exhibitions, including "Introduction to Chinese Culinary Culture" and "Palace Tea Banquet Illustrated" [4] - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council organized related events, attracting over 770 exhibitors and approximately 890,000 attendees [4] - The "World Cultural and Artistic Corridor" connects global cultures through food, showcasing themed exhibitions and collaborating with consulates [4] Group 3: Interactive Experiences - The Sichuan-themed pavilion includes a variety of publications and integrates elements of intangible cultural heritage, such as Sichuan opera and tea arts [7] - New interactive areas, including a cultural and creative products zone, offer unique experiences, showcasing local and Macau cultural products [7] - The use of AI and VR/AR technology at the fair engages younger audiences, allowing them to interact with literary characters in a virtual setting [7]

Core Insights - The 35th Hong Kong Book Fair is described as a vibrant cultural event, showcasing a wide variety of books and activities, despite a temporary closure due to Typhoon "Wipha" [2][3] - The fair features popular author lectures, with significant attendance and interest in discussions led by renowned writers such as Xu Zechen [2][3] - The event emphasizes cultural themes, including a special focus on the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War and World Anti-Fascist War, with dedicated exhibition areas and lectures [3] Group 1: Event Highlights - The fair opened early on July 21, attracting a large crowd eager to explore diverse book offerings and cultural activities [2] - A special exhibition area themed around Sichuan province showcases over 500 books and cultural products, highlighting local cuisine and arts [5] - The introduction of a "Cultural and Creative Products Zone" offers interactive experiences and showcases unique cultural items from Hong Kong and Macau [6] Group 2: Cultural Themes - This year's theme, "Food Culture and Future Life," integrates food literature and explores the impact of technology on future dining experiences [8][9] - Notable discussions on the cultural significance of food are presented, with authors sharing insights into traditional and modern culinary practices [8] - The fair aims to promote cultural exchange through food literature, enhancing the understanding of diverse culinary traditions [9]

Group 1 - The 35th Hong Kong Book Fair will be held from July 16 to 22, featuring over 620 cultural activities under the theme "Food Culture · Future Life" [1] - The Sichuan theme pavilion will showcase over 500 quality books and cultural products, presenting a cultural feast titled "Beautiful Tianfu · Leisurely Sichuan" in a 120 square meter area [1][2] - The pavilion is divided into three main areas: a book area resembling a miniature Bashu cultural museum, a fusion area featuring panda-themed cultural products, and an activity area showcasing interactive performances [2] Group 2 - The Sichuan exhibition team will organize multiple new book launches and reading exchange activities to strengthen cultural exchanges between Sichuan and Hong Kong [3] - Events include the "Humanistic Bashu · Beautiful Tianfu" travel literature series sharing session and the second Golden Panda Award promotion meeting [3] - Intangible cultural heritage representatives will perform traditional Sichuan opera face-changing and tea art during the fair [3]

Group 1 - The 35th Hong Kong Book Fair will be held from July 16 to 22 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, featuring over 770 exhibitors [12] - This year's theme is "Food Culture · Future Life," with more than 620 cultural activities planned, including lectures and book launches by renowned authors [12][14] - The event aims to promote cultural exchange and reading, aligning with the national "14th Five-Year Plan" to support Hong Kong as a cultural and artistic exchange center [12][14] Group 2 - A new "Cultural and Creative Products Zone" will showcase Hong Kong's intangible cultural heritage and creative products from Macau, along with a focus on Sichuan's cultural elements [15] - The fair will host various industry exchange activities, including an "International Publishing Forum" and "Hong Kong Publishing Biennial Awards" to foster dialogue within the publishing industry [15] - The "World Cultural and Arts Corridor" will feature an exhibition titled "Dining Table · Reading Food," connecting global cultures through food [12][15] Group 3 - The fair will include eight major lecture series, inviting influential authors and scholars to share insights on food literature and cultural perspectives [14] - Notable speakers include award-winning authors and experts in various fields, enhancing the fair's appeal as a cultural exchange platform [14] - The event will also feature interactive installations and workshops to engage visitors in discussions about food culture [12][14] Group 4 - The Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo will coincide with the National Games, featuring interactive displays and activities related to sports [16][17] - The expo will host the "FIBA 3x3 World Tour - Hong Kong Masters 2025," promoting basketball and sports engagement [16] - Various sports experiences will be available for attendees, including activities like pickleball and street fitness [17] Group 5 - To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the book fair, special promotions include free admission for attendees born in 1990 and discounted tickets for tourists [18][19] - Visitors spending over HKD 500 will receive limited edition souvenirs, enhancing the overall experience [19] - The fair aims to promote reading culture across all districts in Hong Kong through nearly 400 cultural activities during "Cultural July" [18]

Core Viewpoint - The rapid growth of the meal replacement market reflects a societal shift towards convenience, driven by urban young people's "time poverty," but raises concerns about health and cultural implications [1][2][3] Group 1: Market Growth and Trends - The meal replacement market in China reached a scale of 175 billion yuan in 2023 and is expected to exceed 350 billion yuan by 2027, indicating explosive growth [1] - The product's marketing strategy effectively targets young consumers' desire for efficiency, simplifying meals to just two scoops of powder [1] Group 2: Health Concerns - Clinical recommendations suggest that only specific patients should use meal replacements under medical guidance, as long-term reliance may lead to malnutrition and digestive issues [2] - Over 50% of meal replacement products on the market fail to meet the minimum energy standards set by the Chinese Nutrition Society, posing health risks to consumers [2] Group 3: Regulatory and Industry Responsibility - The development of the meal replacement industry highlights the inadequacies of the regulatory framework, with a lack of mandatory standards allowing misleading marketing practices [2][3] - Companies are urged to increase R&D investment from the current level of less than 5% of revenue to develop products that meet diverse health needs [3] Group 4: Cultural and Social Implications - There is a need to rebuild the understanding of food culture, emphasizing that eating is not just about nutrition but also about social connections and cultural heritage [3][4] - The pursuit of efficiency should not come at the cost of health and bodily functions, as reliance on liquid meal replacements may lead to irreversible degradation of chewing and digestive capabilities [3]