Find a little fresh thing every day.
Zibo barbecue gained sudden fame when a group of college students documented their visit to Zibo's barbecue stands on Douyin, China's equivalent of TikTok. Their videos showcased the delicious and affordable barbecue, sparking interest and excitement on the internet.
What is Zibo?
Zibo is a city in Shandong Province, China, with a rich cultural heritage dating back thousands of years. It's known for its modern industrial development and is considered an important petrochemical base in the region. Additionally, Zibo boasts traditional crafts such as colored glass production, which has been practiced for centuries and holds significant cultural value.
One of the standout features of Zibo's culinary scene is its barbecue, a popular cuisine enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Zibo barbecue typically involves skewered and grilled meat and vegetables, often rolled in thin pancakes with scallions.
The 2024 Zibo Barbecue Festival further propelled the city into the limelight, drawing tourists from around the world to experience the culinary delights offered at the event. The festival featured a variety of barbecue stalls, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with the aroma of grilled food and the excitement of eager diners.
What's noteworthy is the community spirit and hospitality that characterize Zibo's barbecue scene.
How did a small Chinese city's barbecue stand become an overnight sensation?
A small Chinese city's barbecue stand became an overnight sensation through a combination of social media exposure, cultural appeal, and genuine hospitality.
Social Media Exposure: The initial spark came from a group of college students who documented their visit to the Zibo barbecue stand on Douyin (China's TikTok equivalent). Their videos showcasing the delicious and affordable barbecue spread rapidly across the platform, reaching a wide audience and generating buzz about the stand.
Cultural Appeal: Zibo's barbecue holds cultural significance, representing not just a culinary delight but also a reflection of the city's heritage and communal spirit. The barbecue scene in Zibo is characterized by its authenticity and warmth, which resonates with both locals and visitors.
Genuine Hospitality: Stories emerged of barbecue vendors going above and beyond to accommodate customers, such as Uncle Zhao, who famously rode a tricycle to deliver customers to a peer's store when his own restaurant became too busy. This genuine hospitality and willingness to serve captured the public's attention and contributed to the stand's popularity.