Visitors enjoy barbecued food, pancakes and beer in Zibo, Shandong province. CAO BOYUAN/WANG ZIRUI/FOR CHINA DAILY/HUANGPU XIAOWEN/XINHUA
Field studies
Many other Chinese cities with heavy industry, such as Jinzhou, Liaoning province, also have barbecue areas. The trend in Zibo has encouraged the authorities in these cities to conduct field studies on ways in which barbecue food can be used to invigorate their economies.
A team of officials from Jinzhou, including those from the city's housing and construction, commerce, and market supervision and regulation bureaus, studied the barbecue business in Zibo from April 16-18.
Barbecue businesses emerged in Jinzhou in the 1980s, and flourished in the 1990s. In 2005, a barbecue association was founded in the city to promote development of this trade.
The local government worked to integrate the barbecue business with tourism development, but barbecued food in Jinzhou, which was promoted by the city's tourism sector, never became the viral sensation that it did in Zibo.
Li Zhi, director of the Jinzhou Barbecue Association, was quoted as saying by local media, "The point of the Zibo barbecue trend is the local people's sincere, hospitable, friendly and helpful attitude toward young people."
He added that the huge influx of visitors poses a challenge to the city. However, each sector in Zibo, from transportation and public security, to catering and accommodations, has coordinated well, enabling it to withstand such pressure.
