Quanzhou, September 27, 2024 — At the 2024 “New Fujian Cuisine: Authentic Quanzhou” Mountain-Sea Chef Competition and Innovation Series for Famous Chefs, Restaurants, Dishes, and Snacks, held on September 27, Tang Yan, head of Meituan’s Black Pearl Restaurant Guide, delivered a keynote speech titled "Collaborating with Quanzhou to Build the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide." She formally announced that the prestigious guide will launch in Quanzhou in 2025. Additionally, in 2026, Quanzhou will host the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide Launch and Award Ceremony, presenting fresh development opportunities for the city and offering global food enthusiasts a new destination to explore.

　　“Quanzhou, the starting harbor of the historic Maritime Silk Routes, has a rich culinary heritage. Over a thousand years ago, Quanzhou cuisine began blending with global food traditions, creating a unique flavor profile that is a vital part of China’s culinary culture. The Black Pearl Guide is excited to introduce Quanzhou’s culinary gems to food lovers around the world,” said Tang Yan.

　　Quanzhou’s restaurants will undergo the same rigorous evaluation process as those in other cities across China. The review committee will first nominate candidate restaurants and then conduct a comprehensive review to ensure food safety and operational compliance. Judges will conduct anonymous visits, tasting and scoring the restaurants, followed by cross-verification and impartial calculations based on multiple data sources. The entire evaluation process will be supported by Meituan’s big data analytics, ensuring the integrity and fairness of the results. The nomination phase has been successfully completed, and the anonymous tastings are nearing their end, with the final list of award-winning restaurants to be announced in January 2025.

　　A Landmark Event for Quanzhou’s Culinary Future

　　Perhaps the most exciting development is the 2026 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide Launch and Award Ceremony, which will be held in Quanzhou. This prestigious event will not only spotlight the best restaurants in China but will also serve as a platform for economic, trade, and cultural exchanges. By then, award-winning restaurants, media professionals, investors, and business leaders from across the nation will gather in Quanzhou to celebrate this milestone together.

　　The event will help propel “Quanzhou Cuisine” to a broader national and international audience, stimulating domestic demand, benefiting the local economy, and enhancing consumer engagement. It will also forge stronger ties between Quanzhou and global business communities, attracting more visitors, investors, and food enthusiasts to the city.

　　Strengthening Quanzhou’s Global Culinary Standing

　　Industry experts suggest that the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide’s introduction to Quanzhou will offer authoritative guidance to food lovers worldwide, showcasing the depth and diversity of Quanzhou’s culinary culture. Furthermore, hosting the Black Pearl Guide’s awards ceremony will encourage top-tier restaurants and catering enterprises to focus on Quanzhou, fostering the growth of renowned brands and expanding the city’s restaurant industry. This will enhance the quality and quantity of local dining options, enrich the service sector, and unlock the region's consumption potential.

　　These initiatives will undoubtedly bolster Quanzhou’s bid to become a City of Gastronomy and elevate its status in the global culinary landscape.

　　The Black Pearl Restaurant Guide’s launch and the associated events in Quanzhou represent unprecedented opportunities for the city’s economic and cultural development. We are confident that in the near future, Quanzhou will become a world-renowned culinary destination, drawing food lovers to experience its unique flavors and vibrant heritage. Let us look forward to this exciting moment in Quanzhou’s gastronomic future.