[Video provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A chicken cook-off was held in Xintai, a county-level city in Shandong province on Nov 1, where 174 chefs from 16 cities across the province gathered to show off their skills in cooking chicken.

Xintai is renowned for its stir-fried chicken, boasting over 8,300 dining establishments, with more than 6,800 restaurants offering stir-fried chicken as a signature dish. This beloved dish has become a vital part of the local culinary scene and a cherished taste memory for the residents.

Director of the Xintai bureau of commerce Lou Xia, said the city's 6,800-plus fried chicken restaurants have grown the value of restaurants by 20 percent over this time last year, with the total value of the food service industry expected to reach 6 billion yuan ($842.41 million) in 2024.

A total of 59 excellence awards, 51 bronze awards, 34 silver awards, and 17 gold awards were presented at the competition. During the award ceremony, titles were also awarded for Qilu Stir-fried Chicken Skills and Qilu Roast Chicken Skill. Additionally, Xintai was honored the title of "Hometown of Qilu Stir-fried Chicken".