Quanzhou, 18 July — Licheng District is turning up the heat on its most iconic dish. At the second plenary meeting of the Licheng District Catering Association, the newly formed Ginger Duck Industry Alliance was officially established, injecting new momentum into the district's ambitions for culinary innovation and excellence. The event was attended by Deputy District Governor Li Chaoduan.

　　The meeting reviewed the association's achievements over the past year and confirmed the appointment of new vice-presidential and executive council members. Quanzhou Citongli Cultural Tourism Industry Co., Ltd. and Min Sanya Catering Services Co., Ltd. were elected as vice-presidential units.

　　The Ginger Duck Industry Alliance launched with 30 founding members, with Citongli Cultural Tourism serving as the chair, and eight enterprises — including Min Sanya and Quanzhou Licheng Kentli Restaurant — named as vice-chair units.

　　Located in a UNESCO World Heritage core zone, Quanzhou's historic Old Town draws nearly 100 million visitors annually. Among its many culinary attractions, ginger duck stands out as a beloved local delicacy, known for its bold flavours and warming properties. The city is now home to 59 ginger duck restaurants — nearly a quarter of the total across Quanzhou — and includes top-rated establishments such as Zhongji and Zhang Lin Ashan, both recognised in the Michelin Bib Gourmand guide.

　　"Our mission is to preserve traditional craftsmanship, set unified industry standards, and foster collaborative growth," said Zhuang Dexing, Chairman of the Ginger Duck Industry Alliance. "We're working with the School of Tourism at Huaqiao University to develop dedicated industry guidelines, and we aim to promote ginger duck cuisine in key markets such as Beijing, Shanghai, and the Yangtze River Delta through the Quanzhou Gourmet Industry Promotion Association."

Official launch of the Ginger Duck Industry Alliance promotional campaign

　　To celebrate the launch, a series of promotional campaigns were rolled out immediately, including the 2025 Quanzhou Beef & Ginger Duck Culinary Skills Competition, jointly hosted by the Quanzhou Cultural Tourism Group, Licheng District Commerce Bureau, and the Gourmet Industry Promotion Association.

　　The competition features live culinary contests (25–26 July) and a 10-day online marketing challenge, where chefs and restaurants showcase their skills across platforms such as Douyin (TikTok China) and Meituan. The campaign, which blends traditional flavours with digital savvy, has already amassed more than 4 million online views.

　　Looking forward, Licheng will also host the second Neighbourhood Culture Carnival, headlined by the "'Duck' Stage Spotlight" Ginger Duck Cooking Contest. The event will create engaging culinary experiences while preserving the cultural essence of this heritage dish.

　　In addition, the district plans to spotlight industry-leading businesses, cultivating a network of model and flagship ginger duck establishments. These benchmarks will serve as catalysts to elevate the sector and ensure sustained growth across the industry.