The preliminary rounds of the 2025 "CCB Cup" Rural Chef Competition are held across Jinhua. [Photo/Tide News]
The 2025 "CCB Cup" Rural Chef Competition Final will take place on May 30 at Wuzhou Ancient City in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, according to a news conference held on May 28.
Known for its rich gastronomic traditions, Jinhua aims to use local cuisine to boost tourism and consumption. Building on last year's successful "Jinhua Ham Cup" competition, which featured international chefs, this year's event focuses on rural specialties, seeking to elevate Jinhua's culinary brand and enhance its tourism appeal.
Open exclusively to chefs from rural guesthouses, homestays, and local eateries, as well as cooking enthusiasts and food bloggers, the competition excludes professionals from large hotels.
After intense preliminary rounds across Jinhua from April 24 to May 18, 50 finalists emerged from 546 participants to compete in two categories: hot dishes and snacks. Dishes will be judged by both expert panels and public reviews, with sales revenue from on-site servings factored into scoring.
Post-event, Jinhua will launch a "Rural Culinary Map" and routes and partner with China Construction Bank to distribute food consumer vouchers, encouraging wider culinary exploration.
Additionally, a food fair will run from 4 pm to 8 pm at the same venue during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday from May 31 to June 1, where over 50 local vendors will showcase regional specialties.
The Jinhua government announced that all preparations are complete for the festival, inviting visitors to savor Jinhua's iconic flavors while exploring its historical sites.
