Zibo looks to capitalize on windfall from BBQ craze

The barbecue craze in Zibo last year has had a lasting impact on the city, with governments at various levels seeking to utilize the fame to boost consumption, said deputies at the ongoing session of the 14th Shandong People's Congress.

Tourist destinations in Shandong, such as Zibo and Weihai, gained nationwide recognition last year, leading to a 60 percent surge in both tourist numbers and revenue for the province, Zhou Naixiang, governor of Shandong, said while delivering the government work report to the congress on Monday.

Zibo, an old industrial city that barely featured on most people's list of must-visit places, attracted a huge influx of visitors－particularly young people－from around the country over a three-month period last year thanks to its barbecue craze.