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On a regular weekday in early April, tourists from across the country browsed stalls to taste local snacks, filling each crevice of the food alley at the Badaju Market in Zhangdian district of Zibo, Shandong province.

Yu Xianxian, a traveler from Anhui province, made Badaju Market her first stop in the morning. "I'm going to try the purple rice cake," Yu said as she waited in line. "And tonight, I want to have some barbecue."