Tianshui spicy hot pot captivates tourists across China: another tourism boom following Harbin

The most basic ingredients can unleash a rich and enticing flavour—that's exactly what TianShui MaLaTang does, a spicy hot pot from Northwest China's Gansu province, captivating tourists nationwide with queues stretching hundreds of metres waiting their turn.

TianShui MaLaTang does, a spicy hot pot from Northwest China's Gansu province, and long queues waiting to taste the dish. Images: China Daily, RED

Tianshui spicy hot pot is made by poaching raw ingredients (meats, vegetables, and noodles skewered and bundled) in a pot of boiling broth. Then they are rolled into a large steel basin, drizzled with garlic sauce, sprinkled with Tianshui peppercorns, crushed peanuts, brushed with bright red chili oil, coloured with coriander and green onions. Fragrant and visually appealing, it provokes taste buds on the tip of tourists’ tongue. Moreover, it's great value for money. For just a little over ¥15 ($2) per person, tourists can enjoy a satisfying spicy hot pot meal.

A video showcasing how Tianshui hot pot is made, shared by @蜡笔小食探 on RED

Following Harbin tourism craze, Tianshui is now packed with tourists from all over China. Searches for travel to Tianshui surged by 186% compared to the previous week as of March 14th on Tong Cheng Travel, one of China's leading online travel agencies. This upward trend has continued steadily.

On 5 February, a food vlogger @传说中的波仔with 0.53 million followers on Douyin posted a video titled ‘Spicy Hot Pot by the Street in Tianshui.’ Eight days later, a vlogger @一杯梁白开 with thousands of followers on Douyin posted a video suggesting the nationwide promotion of Gansu-style spicy hot pot. These two videos attracted a large number of viewers, likes, and shares, leading to more posts related to Tianshui spicy hot pot.

A video titled ‘Spicy Hot Pot by the Street in Tianshui,' shared by @传说中的波仔 on Douyin

The topic of ‘Gansu-style Spicy Hot Pot’ has rapidly gained traction. More and more vloggers followed suit, and then the tourists began to flock to Tianshui to taste the dish. Mainstream media such as People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, and China Central Television, as well as social influencers, have proactively promoted this trend.

Since 1 March, the Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism has actively promoted ‘Tianshui Spicy Hot Pot.’ They have teamed up with various online platforms like Douyin, Kuaishou, and Sina Weibo to increase traffic to topics under ‘Gansu Spicy Hot Pot.’ As of 16 March, videos related to ‘Gansu Spicy Hot Pot’ on major short video platforms have amassed over 3.26 billion views.

Tianshui doesn’t just offer enticing, appetising spicy hot pot food. Tianshui currently stands out for its distinctive regional culture, much like popular cities such as Harbin and Zibo. It offers attractions like the Maijishan Grottoes, Xianren Cliff, hot springs, rural homestays in the Longshang area, and the upcoming Fuxi Grand Ceremony.

Maijishan Grottoes, Xianren Cliff in Tianshui. Images: RED

Hot springs and Fuxi Grand Ceremony in Tianshui. Images: RED

Whether Tianshui can boost its cultural and tourism appeal depends on its tourism offerings, capacity to welcome visitors, and service quality. Tianshui has been working to better serve tourists. For instance, visitors arriving by train are greeted with welcoming banners and provided with free bus transportation. Free parking is available for drivers, and staff from local attractions distribute tickets and offer mascots or gifts at spicy hot pot restaurants.

Video showcasing Tianshui's hospitality to tourists. Video: @如意甘肃 on RED