On the evening of July 19, after two days of intense competition, the Hefei Street Qualifier of the 2026 “Super Anhui” Food Competition came to a successful conclusion at Wenyi Jinmen Water Street. A total of 24 food teams from across the city competed over two days, showcasing their culinary skills at the cooking stations and competing in the marketplace. In the end, the Jiqinglou Wushan Tribute Goose Climbing Team claimed the championship, while the Changfeng Ruyi Team and the Wushan Tribute Goose Team won second and third place respectively.
The unique appeal of this food competition lies in the fact that it goes beyond a traditional contest. When cooking stations are brought into the marketplace, and both professional evaluations and on-site sales determine the final results, food is no longer simply a closed-door showcase of culinary techniques. Instead, it becomes a vibrant expression of local culture that enters the streets, connects directly with consumers, and embraces the community. Turning competitions into immersive experiences and culture into something people can participate in — this is the most memorable highlight the qualifier has brought to Hefei.
Beyond the competition itself, a variety of experiences including the Haoche Food Market, interactive entertainment, and consumer benefit activities were launched simultaneously. The event centered around four immersive sections: “Hundreds of Flavors Battle Array · Haoche Food Market,” “Fun Entertainment · Interactive Engagement,” “Benefits Giveaway · Consumer Support Activities,” and “Atmosphere Creation · Shared Celebration.”
The venue featured not only the food sales competition market and the youth-oriented “Dopamine Haoche Food Market,” but also integrated diverse experiences including intangible cultural heritage products, traditional Chinese medicine wellness, agricultural assistance sales initiatives, and brand exhibitions. Visitors could participate in interactive games such as “Guess the Food from Pictures,” “Timed Food Picking Challenge,” and “Xiatang Sesame Cake Flipping Challenge,” collecting stamps to exchange for “Haoche Gift Packages.” The event also featured the “Time Convenience Store” and “Parents’ Recipe Wall,” bringing back childhood memories for those born in the 1980s and 1990s.
This competition adopted Bao Gong culture, one of Hefei’s most representative historical and cultural icons, as its creative theme. During the opening ceremony, a Bao Gong NPC led professional judges to stamp the exclusive “Bao Gong’s Official Seal” on the “Luzhou Hundred Flavors Scroll,” which combines signature foods and cultural landmarks from different districts and counties of Hefei. The symbolic gesture represented Hefei’s distinctive flavors coming together for a shared celebration while also highlighting fairness and integrity through the image of Bao Gong. Throughout the event, Bao Gong’s guards, portrayed by NPC performers, patrolled the venue. In addition, a “Hefei Food Dialect Check-in Wall” was set up, allowing visitors to take photos, share posts with event-related hashtags on social media, and receive gifts.
As the summer tourism season enters its peak period, Hefei has continued to attract attention with a variety of cultural and tourism offerings, including technology innovation and science education tours, water splash festivals, live-action red-themed performances, and lotus pond night tours. The addition of the food competition has further energized Hefei’s summer consumer market — bringing people together through competition, driving consumption through food markets, and creating lasting memories through culture. Since its launch in 2025, the “Super Anhui” series of events has expanded across all 16 cities in Anhui Province. The successful hosting of this street qualifier not only further strengthens Hefei’s local food identity but also provides a new example of how urban culture and tourism can be integrated for development.
Media Contact
Company Name: Hefei Municipal Bureau of culture and Tourism
Contact Person: Cheng Longcan
Email: Send Email
City: Hefei
Country: China
Website: http://wlj.hefei.gov.cn/
