Preserved sausages are a favorite of Hangzhou residents. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

The festive spirit is now in full swing as Hangzhou's rural specialty shopping festival opened its doors on Jan 18.

The event has an exhibition space of nearly 10,000 square meters and features over 400 vendors showcasing more than 3,000 local products, adding a distinctive touch to the traditional Hangzhou New Year ambiance.

Thirteen districts from Hangzhou presented their star products at the exhibition, such as West Lake Longjing tea, succulent strawberries from Jiande, and thin-shelled walnuts from Lin'an.

Beyond the local offerings, delicacies from various regions enhanced the event's appeal. pineapple cakes, pomelo ginseng, and oolong tea from Taiwan, red kiwi, apples and highland barley noodles from Southwest China's Sichuan, and rice, mushrooms and ginseng from Northeast China's Jilin brought diversity to the feast.

The exhibition drew crowds of eager visitors, some even equipped with hand carts to accommodate their bountiful purchases.

A woman surnamed Du expressed her enthusiasm, stating that she attended the event almost every year due to the wide variety, freshness, and affordability of the products, making it possible to complete her Spring Festival shopping in one go.

The event also provided a SF Express delivery point for easy home delivery. For those unable to visit in person, online purchases can be made through the Hangzhou Citizen Card Mall WeChat mini-program or by downloading the Hangzhou Citizen Card app. 

Jiande is home to succulent strawberries. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]