Quanzhou Network, July 7

　　Recently, the official document Construction Plan for the Core Zone of the UNESCO City of Gastronomy (2026–2029) (shortened as the Plan) has been issued publicly. The release marks the official launch of a three-year construction initiative for the district's gastronomy core area. The Plan sets clear quantitative development targets to be achieved by 2029. Licheng aims to expand its total catering industry output to over 300 million RMB. The district will cultivate more than 100 time-honored shops and World Heritage featured restaurants, and add at least five eateries recognized by Michelin Guide, Bib Gourmand and the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide. Over five characteristic food blocks will be completed. The district will advance coordinated development covering four pillars: cultural inheritance, industrial upgrading, improvement of residents' livelihoods and international exchange. Gastronomy will be built into a core engine driving the city's sustainable development.

　　In spatial planning, Licheng adopts the guiding principle of one main corridor with one dedicated theme and every street with its unique features. Food blocks will be developed under tiered and categorized planning standards. The West Street block will gather Quanzhou local snack stores and local souvenir specialty shops to build the No.1 World Heritage Food Street and a flagship display platform for authentic Quanzhou flavors. Zhongshan Road will introduce high-end Minnan cuisine brands and world-famous catering chains to develop century-old arcade dining avenues as exclusive banquet venues of Quanzhou. The Jubao Street and Qinglong Lane area in southern Licheng will explore the historical heritage of foreign merchants during the Song and Yuan dynasties. A mix of international flavor restaurants and local traditional snack shops will be opened to form a Maritime Silk Road global food cultural belt. The Huasheng Overseas Chinese Cluster will be planned as a Southeast Asian themed food block featuring fusion dishes created by overseas Chinese communities.

　　In terms of catering format upgrading, Licheng will roll out an improvement programme for time-honored brands. Experience workshops, cultural exhibition halls and sightseeing food production factories will be built. Local heritage eateries will be encouraged to launch innovative new dishes. The district will pair young entrepreneurs, overseas returned designers and new media operators with time-honored shops to expand the Youth Alliance for Time-honored Brands. Local farmers' markets will undergo comprehensive renovation. A catalogue of premium local raw ingredients will be compiled. The district will pilot a dual operating mode for markets that serve fresh food retail by day and night-time food bazaars after dark, and build demonstration farmers' markets with distinctive catering features.

　　Licheng will also connect ancestral halls and generational family eateries to develop a minimum of eight customized Root-seeking Gastronomy travel routes. Local authorities will invite chambers of commerce and overseas social organizations to set up dedicated agencies promoting Licheng cuisine, and appoint a group of global ambassadors for Licheng food. The district will regularly host cross-strait exchange events themed Flavors Across the Taiwan Strait, Food in Licheng. It will support mutual visits between Licheng time-honored shops and Taiwan local eateries, and introduce more characteristic Taiwan catering brands to strengthen emotional connection and cultural resonance among cross-strait catering practitioners. (Reported by Li Ying, Li Mengxian)