Qutang town in Hai'an, a county-level city in Nantong, is famous for its mutton. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

The seventh mutton food and culture festival opened in Qutang town in Hai'an, Nantong on Oct 29 and will run until Dec 30.

Qutang town, which is hailed as the "western gate of Nantong", ranked 393rd among China's top 1,000 towns in 2019 with its regional gross domestic product reaching 11.69 billion yuan ($1.69 billion) that year.

In recent years, the town has given full play to its natural scenery, as well as folk and dietary culture in promoting rural tourism.

Qutang mutton boasts a history of more than 100 years and made its name because of its tenderness and pleasant flavor. 

There is an array of popular local dishes made from mutton, such as white cut mutton, braised mutton with soy sauce, mutton soup and mutton dumplings. More than 50 mutton restaurants have become a highlight of the town's dietary culture.

"This year's festival is themed on the new image of the old town," said Ji Zurong, Party secretary of Qutang.

"We have built a special block featuring mutton. Tourists can also visit parks and old streets to enjoy local delicacies and scenery at the same time."

A representative from Jiangsu Province Dining Profession Association grants the nameplate of Hometown of Specialty Food in Jiangsu to Qutang town at the opening ceremony of the town's seventh mutton food and culture festival on Oct 29. [Photo/ntfabu.com]