CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- At the beginning of this year, tasty and hot dishes stew in iron pots left a good impression on the tourists who "checked in" in Harbin. As snow fell, the first batch of tourists from southern China reached Harbin. Dishes stew in iron pots are getting popular again, providing a new experience for the tourists with new ways of eating such as cartoon steamed buns, half-steamed and half-boiled stuffed buns, cooked rice socked in water, helping boost the snow economy of Heilongjiang.

According to the data from Meituan, Dianping, in recent days, tourists from other places like eating northeastern Chinese cuisine best when they reach Harbin, followed by Russian restaurants and northeast barbecue. Among them, dishes stew in iron pots is the most popular. Among the TOP10 cities searched, cities in areas south of the Huaihe River account for 70%, with Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Xi'an and Shanghai ranking top five.

When southern diners meet northern diners, many new ways of eating Harbin dishes stew in iron pots and new services have emerged.

Driven by the tourism boom of Harbin, dishes stew in iron pots are getting popular rapidly, with a batch of new regional chain restaurants emerging. "Zao Zuo", founded in 2016, is a new highly praised restaurant on the platforms like Meituan, Dianping. Its delicious and affordable "Hu Bing" (a kind of pancakes half-steamed and half-boiled in small iron pots), is in line with the current consumption concept of young people – being healthy, eating less, and saving.

Wang Zhandong, the founder of the restaurant, said "In the past, my restaurant mainly served local young people. However, as Harbin gets popular and popular, many tourists form Shanghai, Shenzhen, Sichuan and other places are coming to Harbin recommended by Dianping. At the beginning of this year in snow season during the peak period, tourists from other places coming to my restaurant accounted for 90%, with 7-8 tables turned over in a single day. Too busy to receive them all."

It is learned that since the beginning of this year, the number of catering merchants in Harbin that have been newly included on Meituan has increased by over 20% year-on-year, covering hundreds of catering service forms, such as Chinese restaurants, Russian restaurants, Japanese restaurants, sauced meat shops, tea drinking shops, cafes, music dining bars, camping dining bars. By using platform digitized technology, these merchants have achieved online operation, standard services and steady accumulation of reputation. While providing better consumption experience for customers, they have become new power for high quality development of catering industry.

Southern tourists are choosing to travel to the north, while many northern tourists are also flocking to the south. A few days ago, Chongqing Mexin Wine Town launched an event for warm winter consumption season, offering tourists an unforgettable experience filled with joy, great deals, and warmth.

This event offers a plethora of discounts and is full of sincerity. Merchants have rolled out enticing promotion activities. From fashionable stove-boiled tea to exquisite handcrafts, from delicious local snacks to high-quality red wine products, a wide variety of goods are available at affordable prices, welcoming customers to buy them. (Translated by Jane, Fathom Language Limited)