A thriving crab-themed night market is drawing food lovers and enthusiastic visitors to Yiyang City in central China's Hunan Province, as the prime season for hairy crab consumption arrives, driving up the local night economy.
Local authorities have unveiled an event that blends culture, commerce and tourism to boost tourism spending during peak season for crab consumption.
Building on the five hairy crab restaurants on a once-quiet pedestrian street in the city's Datonghu Lake District, local authorities, in collaboration with business operators, have rolled out a package of measures, including bid invitation, extension of rent breaks and distribution of consumer vouchers, since September, virtually turning the entire pedestrian street into a bustling night market zone.
Beyond fine food, a lineup of nighttime performances, including singing and dance competitions and carnival-style activities, has been held to attract visitors. Local chefs compete in culinary challenges, crafting elaborate feasts featuring crabs and other local aquatic delicacies and drawing crowds of residents and tourists alike.
Since September, the Datonghu Lake District has received nearly 100,000 visits, generating approximately 100 million yuan (around 15 million U.S. dollars) in revenue across the dining, retail and hospitality sectors.
Located in the heart of the Dongting Lake area, the Datonghu District is a major hairy crab producer in Hunan. This year, the total output value of the local hairy crab industry is expected to exceed 900 million yuan (about 135.4 million U.S. dollars), an increase of about 5.88 percent year on year. Hairy crabs farmed in Yiyang have also been exported to overseas markets, including Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
Crab-themed market boosts night economy in central China city
China's resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity and achieve national reunification remains unwavering, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.
During a phone conversation with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, urged the Philippine side to faithfully implement its one-China policy and exercise prudence in its words and actions on maritime issues.
Noting that China-Philippines relations are facing malicious interference at present, Wang said that a few Philippine politicians, out of political prejudice and self-interest, have repeatedly attacked and smeared China.
Such deeds have crossed China's red lines, politicized normal economic, trade and people-to-people exchanges, and infringed upon the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese personnel and institutions in the Philippines, Wang said.
Such deeds are irrational and intolerable, and damaging to the Philippines' own international image, Wang said, adding that Manila should exercise greater restraint over the individuals concerned and ensure that its policy toward China reflects a rational and unified voice.
For her part, Lazaro said that the Philippines attaches great importance to its relations with China and hopes to develop a stable and predictable bilateral relationship.
Given the challenges that countries currently face in areas such as economy and energy, communication between the Philippines and China is conducive to managing differences, improving bilateral ties, and promoting regional peace and stability, Lazaro said.
The Philippines, she added, remains committed to the one-China policy, a position that will not change, and is also prepared to address maritime and other issues appropriately through dialogue and consultation.
As the ASEAN rotating chair, the Philippines appreciates and looks forward to China playing a greater role in advancing the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to achieve further results, she said.
The two sides reached basic consensus on improving and developing China-Philippines relations. They agreed that healthy and stable bilateral relations serve the interests of both sides and meet regional expectations, and they agreed to maintain diplomatic dialogue to that end.
They agreed that the two countries should work together to eliminate all internal and external interference, and oppose any malicious provocation or behavior aimed at undermining their diplomatic engagement.
They also agreed that both sides should responsibly manage their differences, stabilize the situation and seek to expand their shared interests.
Wang and Lazaro also exchanged views on the leaders' meetings on East Asian cooperation to be held in the Philippines, as well as the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting to be held subsequently in Shenzhen, China.
China's resolve to safeguard sovereignty, territorial integrity remains unwavering, says FM
