Pingtan, the closest point on the Chinese mainland to Taiwan Island and an international tourism island in Fujian Province, brims with festive charm this Spring Festival. Beyond its stunning coastal landscapes, the island offers a rich culinary feast that weaves together cross-Straits warmth and local cultural traditions, serving up the authentic taste of the Lunar New Year for visitors and locals alike.

Fresh seafood stands as the star of Pingtan's Spring Festival dining table. All seafood is freshly caught from the surrounding sea, and simple cooking methods like steaming and blanching lock in its original sweet and fresh flavor. Visitors can choose different dining experiences based on their tastes, with dedicated spots for stir-fried seafood dishes such as blanched prawns and garlic steamed abalones, seafood hot pot where fresh catches are shabu-shabu at the table, and warm, hearty seafood congee simmered with shrimp and crab for a rich, savory taste. 

Pingtan's close geographic and cultural ties with Taiwan shine through its Taiwan-style dishes this Spring Festival, allowing visitors to savor authentic Taiwan flavors without crossing the Taiwan Straits. Ideal venues for a festive family meal offer elegant surroundings and classic Taiwan cuisine that embodies cross-Straits kinship, while specialty spots serve beef noodles with rich, slow-cooked broth and generous chunks of beef, warming both the stomach and heart. Traditional Taiwan sweet soups with rich taro flavor are the perfect sweet finish to a meal, and a dedicated Taiwan snack street in the island's Taiwan Town is the ultimate destination for all Taiwan-style delicacies in Pingtan.

Shilai Yunzhuan (or Lucky Dumpling)

Tianchang Dijiu (or Everlasting Dumpling)

Bazhen Chaogao (or Pingtan Pizza)

The streets and alleys of Pingtan hide beloved local snacks that carry the island's New Year memories and wishes. Shilai Yunzhuan (or Lucky Dumpling), the most iconic snack of Pingtan, has a chewy sweet potato flour skin filled with fresh pork, shrimp and shiitake mushrooms, steamed to perfection and symbolizing good luck for the new year. Tianchang Dijiu (or Everlasting Dumpling), its perfect festive partner, is a fried pastry made with glutinous rice flour, sugar and sesame—crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, representing lasting love, family and friendship. Bazhen Chaogao (or Pingtan Pizza) is a savory treat, stir-fried with sweet potato paste and a mix of ingredients including peanuts, shrimp, pork and crab meat, boasting a layered and rich taste. Local snack shops and food markets across the island are the best places to taste these classic festive treats.

This Spring Festival, Pingtan's diverse culinary offerings turn every bite into a celebration of the Lunar New Year, blending sea flavors, cross-Straits warmth and local nostalgia to create an unforgettable festive experience for all who visit.