An artisan makes a dragon-shaped sugar painting at the 2024 Nantong Culture and Tourism Shopping Carnival. [Photo/WeChat account: ntwgx6]

The 2024 Nantong Culture and Tourism Shopping Carnival attracted nearly 550,000 visitors from Sept 29 to Oct 5, generating over 5 million yuan ($706,000) in sales revenue.

This year's event boasts a larger scale, more products, and longer duration than previous editions. The shopping carnival included more than 100 booths in its six exhibition areas and six different activities.

Mutton shashlik is offered at the 2024 Nantong Culture and Tourism Shopping Carnival. [Photo/WeChat account: ntwgx6]

Booths related to gourmet delights from both Nantong and around the nation, as well as local intangible cultural heritage, are the most popular.

Local snack booths such as the Donggao Meng Family's crab roe buns, grapes from Veteran's Farm, Lujinggang pork head meat, and Baipu dried bean curd were crowded with food enthusiasts. They can also taste crispy chicken biscuits from Macao, mutton shashlik from Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and roasted milk from Yunnan province.

A craftsman shows off his paper-cutting work at the 2024 Nantong Culture and Tourism Shopping Carnival. [Photo/WeChat account: ntwgx6]

The intangible cultural heritage exhibition area displayed lanterns from Rugao, handmade traditional Chinese medicine sachets, blue calico cloth, colorful homespun fabric, and other items. At the same time, local artists were invited to perform puppet shows, pingtan (storytelling and ballad singing), and Tongzi Opera.

Furthermore, each day featured captivating drone shows, vibrant band performances, lively concerts, and colorful parades, adding a layer of vigor to the week-long event.

A drone show is staged at the 2024 Nantong Culture and Tourism Shopping Carnival. [Photo/WeChat account: ntwgx6]