Known as the first fair in the coastal city of Qingdao in the Year of the Rooster, the much-anticipated Qingdao Turnip, Yuanxiao and Tangqiu Fair kicked off on Feb 5 in the city's Shibei District, attracting a jaw-dropping 310,000 people with sales achieving 6.3 million yuan ($916,000) on the opening day.

The eight-day fair is dedicated to candid food and popular snacks just as its name indicates. Yuanxiao, also known as tangyuan, are sweet sticky-rice filled dumplings enjoyed during the Spring Festival. Tangqiu, or tanghulu, is a traditional snack with sugar coated haws on a stick enjoyed by all-ages in China.

Lasting until Feb 12, the fair includes 500 booths and 260 commercial tenants selling a variety of tasty snacks, an array of folk performances, exhibitions and shows featuring intangible cultural heritages and interesting competitions, including a turnip-carving contest, a tangqiu-making competition and a lion dance contest.

The bustling crowd at the Qingdao Turnip, Yuanxiao and Tangqiu Fair in the city's Shibei District, Feb 5, 2017. [Photo/qingdaonews.com]