Following a five-month journey across 16 cities, Weifang emerged as the winner in the "Shandong Cuisine Championship". The competition, which concluded in Qingdao on Dec 28, saw Weifang claim the overall championship title with a commanding 145 points, along with nine individual event medals.

During the competition, Weifang presented 85 unique dishes, ranging from traditional street food to creative innovations. The city's entries swept the three major judging categories, earning nine "Best Creative Dish" awards, 10 "Best Flavor" awards, and 16 "Most Popular Dish" awards.

This victory highlights the strength of Weifang's culinary industry, which thrives on a robust ecosystem that spans from fresh produce sourced in Shouguang's vegetable farms to a skilled workforce nurtured by local vocational schools. This integration of agriculture, education, and culinary innovation has enabled Weifang to transform local ingredients into award-winning dishes.

A kite-themed feast from Weifang's culinary team at the Shandong Cuisine Championship. [Photo/Xinpai]

Weifang's culinary legacy has deep roots. With over 2,000 years of culinary tradition, the city's roots can be traced back to relics from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) found in Zhucheng, which depict ancient cooking and butchering techniques.

Today, this culinary heritage is flourishing. By 2025, over 2,000 Weifang food items were recognized as intangible cultural heritage items, including one national-level, 17 provincial-level, and 92 municipal-level. These heritage-rich dishes are now a major draw for tourists, adding immense value to the city's cultural tourism offerings.

By preserving traditional flavors while embracing modern creativity, Weifang is rapidly becoming a top destination for food tourism.