Visitors gather to taste the First Pot of River Fish, one of the event's signature dishes. [Photo/WeChat account: dskb-dhz]

A freshwater delicacies festival opened on Sept 29 in Dongziguan village, Fuyang district, Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, drawing visitors eager to savor the region's seasonal river fish.

Highlights included the First Pot of River Fish, a signature dish cooked in a 1.5-meter-wide iron pot using over 50 kilograms of freshly caught silver carp, and the unveiling of 12 new unique and fresh dishes. These top dishes — from Fuchun River fish head to stewed perch and crab — were selected through online voting and professional tasting.

Beyond the feast, the event blended food with tourism and culture. Visitors can stroll through the thousand-year-old Dongziguan village, enjoy live music performances, and explore a fresh market, where local agricultural products and snacks were paired with signature Fuchun dishes.

To further promote Fuyang's culinary culture, local cultural figures, media professionals, and international students from Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics were named ambassadors for Fuchun River delicacies.

Organizers said the event not only celebrates Fuyang's autumn scenery and culinary traditions but also supports rural vitalization by promoting local industries and tourism along the Fuchun River.

A local resident holds a bowl full of freshly cooked river fish. [Photo/WeChat account: dskb-dhz]