Chongqing, March 26 (Xinhua) — The 22nd meeting of the Standing Committee of the Sixth Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress passed the “Chongqing Hot Pot Industry Development Promotion Regulation” on the 25th. The regulation will take effect on May 1. This is the country’s first local regulation specifically for the hot pot industry.
The regulation defines the meaning of “Chongqing Hot Pot”: it refers to the type of hot pot that originated in Chongqing, uses unique processes for stir-frying, simmering, and blending the base, is characterized by the representative flavors of spiciness, numbness, freshness, and aroma, and embodies the dietary culture and customs of the Ba-Yu region.
The primary legislative purpose of this regulation is to use the promotion of Chongqing hot pot’s inheritance and development as a starting point to drive the overall leap forward of Chongqing’s hot pot industry. As a targeted piece of legislation for a characteristic catering type, it aims to highlight Chongqing hot pot’s role in leveraging its brand effect and driving force. While emphasizing distinct identity, the regulation also reflects support and encouragement for the industrial development of other types of hot pot, allowing them to share industrial development support policies and jointly promote the high-quality development of the food and agricultural product processing industry cluster.
The regulation stipulates that it applies to activities within the administrative region of Chongqing involving the development of industrial resources, innovative development, talent cultivation, cultural inheritance, and related service guarantees for Chongqing hot pot. Industrial development promotion activities for other types of hot pot operating in Chongqing shall be carried out with reference to this regulation.
The regulation further stipulates that Chongqing is encouraged to build new consumption scenes and landmarks such as an International Hot Pot City, Chongqing Hot Pot Origin Site, and Ecological Hot Pot Clusters. Support is given for holding events like hot pot food festivals and hot pot expos to enhance hot pot consumption levels. Hot pot industry operators are encouraged to innovate customized and themed consumption formats, expand marketing methods such as live-streaming e-commerce, online exhibitions, and food tasting, develop food delivery service models, and promote the integration of online and offline catering services.
Simultaneously, support is given for Chongqing hot pot industry operators and others to collaborate with universities and research institutions to conduct scientific research and tackle technical challenges related to the hot pot industry, promote the efficient transformation and application of scientific research results, and drive innovation in base ingredients, dishes, facilities and equipment, utensils, and business models. Support is given for Chongqing hot pot catering operators to strengthen the inheritance, protection, research, and innovation of craft skills such as the selection of hot pot food ingredients, base making, soup blending, and dipping sauce preparation, adapting ingredients and adjusting flavors in combination with local dietary habits to provide technical support for exploring domestic and international markets.
Furthermore, relevant departments in Chongqing, such as human resources, social security, and commerce, shall strengthen employment and entrepreneurship support for practitioners in the hot pot industry. Support is given for employment service agencies, business incubation institutions, and others to carry out employment and entrepreneurship services, and support is given for “Hot Pot Chefs” and “Chongqing Hot Pot Masters” in employment and entrepreneurship, implementing relevant support policies according to regulations. Employment service agencies and industry associations are encouraged to release supply and demand information for positions related to the hot pot industry to promote employment and entrepreneurship for job seekers.
Chongqing Hot Pot Industry Development Promotion Regulation
The “Chongqing Hot Pot Industry Development Promotion Regulation” is a local government policy enacted to standardize and boost the city’s iconic hot pot sector. Established to safeguard the culinary tradition’s quality and heritage, it provides guidelines for food safety, brand protection, and sustainable growth of this central part of Chongqing’s culture and economy.
International Hot Pot City
“International Hot Pot City” is not a specific historical or cultural landmark, but rather a popular modern marketing concept for large entertainment and dining complexes in China, often in cities like Chongqing or Chengdu, that celebrate hot pot cuisine. These centers typically feature numerous hot pot restaurants, cultural exhibits on the dish’s origins, and live performances, capitalizing on hot pot’s history as a communal meal dating back over a thousand years to Chinese river port workers. They serve as vibrant hubs promoting both the culinary tradition and contemporary tourism.
Chongqing Hot Pot Origin Site
The Chongqing Hot Pot Origin Site is located in the city’s Nan’an District, traditionally believed to be where the iconic spicy and numbing hot pot first emerged during the late Qing Dynasty. It originated as a simple meal for boat trackers along the Yangtze River, who boiled off-cuts of meat and vegetables in a communal, peppery broth. Today, the area commemorates this history, celebrating how the humble dish evolved into a central pillar of Chongqing’s culinary culture and a global dining phenomenon.
Ecological Hot Pot Clusters
“Ecological Hot Pot Clusters” refer to geothermal hot spring areas, often found in regions like China’s Sichuan province or Yellowstone in the USA, where natural hot pots (springs) form distinct groups. These clusters are created by volcanic activity heating groundwater, which then rises to the surface. Historically, many such sites have been used for centuries for bathing, healing, and are now popular tourist destinations that emphasize balancing recreational use with preserving delicate ecosystems.
Ba-Yu region
The Ba-Yu region refers to the historical and cultural area of modern Chongqing and eastern Sichuan in China, traditionally associated with the ancient Ba and Yu states. It is known for its distinct culture, spicy cuisine, and mountainous terrain, with a history dating back over 3,000 years to the Ba people who established a kingdom during the Zhou dynasty. Today, it remains a culturally significant area, often celebrated for its unique folk traditions and as the heart of Sichuanese culinary and operatic heritage.
Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress
The Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress is the local state power organ and legislative body of Chongqing Municipality, operating under the framework of the National People’s Congress of China. It is responsible for enacting local regulations, overseeing government work, and electing local officials, reflecting the socialist political system established after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Its institutional role and functions have been developed and standardized as part of China’s ongoing governance and legal system construction.
hot pot food festivals
Hot pot food festivals are culinary celebrations that showcase the communal dining tradition of cooking ingredients in a shared simmering pot, with roots in East Asian cultures like Chinese, Mongolian, and Japanese cuisine. These festivals often highlight regional variations, such as Sichuan spicy broth or Japanese shabu-shabu, and have grown into modern events promoting social dining and local food heritage. While not tied to a single historical site, they reflect centuries-old practices of communal eating that date back over a thousand years, particularly in China during dynastic eras.
hot pot expos
A hot pot expo is a large-scale culinary exhibition dedicated to showcasing the diverse ingredients, broths, equipment, and regional styles of hot pot, a communal cooking and dining tradition with roots in East Asia, particularly China. These modern events celebrate the dish’s evolution from a simple Mongolian or Chinese court meal centuries ago into a global phenomenon, featuring vendors, competitions, and tastings. They serve as a hub for both industry professionals and food enthusiasts to explore the latest trends and deep cultural heritage of this beloved social meal.
