The panda pig-themed Jinhua service area along the G60 Shanghai-Kunming Highway starts trial operations. [Photo/jinhua.com.cn]
The newly transformed panda pig-themed service area along the G60 Shanghai-Kunming Highway, located in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, began trial operations on Aug 5.
The panda pig, also called the Liangtouwu pig, is famed for its black head and hindquarters that contrast with a white body and limbs. As one of China's top pig breeds, it has been bred in Jinhua for over 1,700 years.
The service area combines leisure, dining, and cultural displays, marking a distinct change from conventional highway rest stops.
Drawing inspiration from European-style manors, the service area captivates travelers with buildings in black and white tones and decorations featuring panda pig elements, showing the distinctive charm of Jinhua's Liangtouwu culture.
Culinary offerings also take center stage at the service area. Premium dishes crafted from the Liangtouwu pork cater to guests eager to savor flavors once confined to the city's urban areas.
In the future, regular exhibitions on Liangtouwu culture and hands-on workshops on intangible heritage crafts will take place at the service area, solidifying it as a key place for tourists from the Yangtze River Delta region to get a glimpse into Jinhua's culture.
