The 30th Xinshi Mutton and Yellow Rice Wine Festival was held on Nov 7 and 8 at a waterfront stage in Xinshi Ancient Town in Deqing county, Huzhou, Zhejiang province, featuring local food, traditional performances, and cultural activities.

The tradition of eating mutton in Xinshi dates back to the Song Dynasty (960–1279) and has a history of about 1,000 years. Enjoying mutton and yellow rice wine in autumn has long been part of local life.

Visitors and local residents sample freshly cooked mutton at Xinshi Ancient Town in Huzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

The festival opened on Nov 7 with a ceremony featuring freshly made traditional mutton dishes, followed by a wine-opening ritual and a shared tasting of the first pour of yellow rice wine. The program also featured local dances, music, and performances inspired by Song Dynasty culture.

The main attraction was a food market with five sections. Visitors could enjoy a long-table banquet, sample local snacks, and browse mutton and yellow rice wine products and cultural souvenirs. Local mutton restaurants and village cooks also prepared their specialties on site.

Visitors also had the chance to browse traditional crafts at an intangible cultural heritage market and attend a book-signing event for an annotated edition of Xiantan Zhi, a local gazetteer. Canal boat trips and an evening theatrical performance rounded out the two-day event.