A match-making trade fair is held in Beijing on Nov 19 and 20 to promote Guilin rice noodles, as well other local specialties including monk fruit, kumquat and osmanthus cake. [Photo by Tang Dajun/For en.gxzf.gov.cn]

Thirty-six exhibitors and some 80 buyers were brought together at a match-making fair held in Beijing on Nov 19 and 20 to promote Guilin rice noodles, as well as other local specialties including monk fruit, kumquat and osmanthus cake.

A comprehensive exhibition hall was set up in Guangxi Hotel for visitors to acquire an in-depth understanding of Guilin's rice noodle culture and industry, which strives to be scaled, standardized and underpinned by green development.

Lei Sheng, vice mayor of Guilin, talks with exhibitors. [Photo by Tang Dajun/For en.gxzf.gov.cn]

Thirty enterprises signed deals worth 95 million yuan ($14 million) on the first day of the fair, paving the way for Guilin specialties' expansion into the national market.

So far, a relatively complete rice noodle industrial chain, from production, to processing, delivery and sales, has taken shape in Guilin. In 2017, the output value of the industry reached 7 billion yuan, whose added value accounted for about 2.3 percent of local GDP.

Lyu Zhengda, CEO of American Chixiang Food Co Ltd, reveals his ambition of selling Guilin rice noodles to the United States and the rest of the world during an interview. [Photo by Tang Dajun/For en.gxzf.gov.cn]

Guilin rice noodle, which seeks to become a globally renowned brand, will further push its transition from a little-known local specialty to a big industry, with an equal emphasis on cultural, tourist and industrial development.

The event was managed by the Guangxi Chamber of Commerce in Beijing and the Beijing Chamber of Commerce in Guilin under the auspices of Guilin Municipal People's Government and the Department of Commerce of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.  

An exhibitor is interviewed by the media. [Photo by Tang Dajun/For en.gxzf.gov.cn]