There was a grand opening ceremony for the 2nd Chinese Muslim Food Festival, in the city of Wuzhong, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on Sept 7.

The 2nd Chinese Muslim Food Festival kicks off in Wuzhong on Sept 7. [Photo provided for chinadaily.com.cn]

With the theme of “Promoting Muslim food culture, developing the Silk Road Economic Belt”, the festival held at the Litong district aims to increase economic and cultural exchanges.

The organizers say there will be a symposium on Wuzhong Muslim dishes and their application for State cultural heritage status, a forum on Ningxia Muslim food “going global”, and a trade fair for Chinese Muslim food, as well as an appraisal of the participants to pick the best chefs, restaurants, dishes, deserts and snacks.

They also say that the city will get recognition as a national “Muslim chef practice site”, “Muslim food R&D site”, “Muslim food cultural heritage pilot ” and “Muslim snack appraisal site”, so, the festival is expected to give the local Muslim catering industry a boost.

The food fest also coincided with the opening ceremony of a recreational vehicle camping festival and a China-Arab States commodity fair.