On the evening of June 12, the 25th Xuyi Crayfish Festival · Joyful Crayfish Banquet kicked off with great fanfare. Over a thousand dining tables were lined up in perfect rows, while dozens of vendors cooked on-site, serving up a gourmet feast to visitors from across the country. Crayfish has become Huai'an's breakout culinary star and a top draw of the summer economy. It not only fuels booming restaurant sales but also revitalizes related sectors such as cultural tourism.

Since the beginning of this year, Huai'an has been actively advancing its initiative to enhance the influence of its title as a "City of Gastronomy." Leveraging a series of consumer-promotion campaigns under the theme "Happy Huai'an, Secure Consumption," the city has deepened its collaboration with the Michelin Guide China team and invited the head of Meituan's Black Pearl Restaurant List to visit Huai'an in hopes of getting local restaurants listed. Huai'an also planned its first Morning Tea Culinary Carnival, featuring competitions for renowned morning tea brands and signature dishes. Meanwhile, the city continues to build its "Famous Township Brands" program, releasing weekly features on local specialty products to help businesses promote their offerings and expand sales channels. In addition, Huai'an is enriching its culinary consumption landscape by supporting the development of various gourmet destinations. These include the Yumatou Canal Culture Food and Leisure Block, Hexia Ancient Town Night Market Hub, and Xuyi K-Street Crayfish Food City—all of which have successfully been designated as Provincial Nighttime Economy Demonstration Zones (Pedestrian Streets) in Jiangsu. The city is also rolling out tailored support policies for time-honored brands, with 55 Huai'an-based legacy businesses receiving targeted assistance to boost their growth.

Since the beginning of this year, Huai'an has hosted over 500 events, including the "Happy Huai'an, Secure Consumption" campaign series, the New Year Gourmet Fair, and the "Happy 666" consumer promotion initiative. These efforts have truly positioned the city's "culinary economy" at the forefront of a new wave of consumer spending.