【主流媒体看乐山】中国国际电视台走进犍为县：乡村厨宴菜品丰盛，村民生活幸福喜乐

1月16日

央视CGTN（中国国际电视台）走进乐山市犍为县

将镜头对准菜品丰盛的乡村厨宴

展现当地迎接新年的热闹氛围

以及村民们的幸福笑容

The people of Sichuan in southwest China are known for their love of food. Their cuisine also happens to be one of the four main cuisines in the country. Our reporter Guo Tianqi went to the region to learn more taking part in a village banquet to celebrate the Spring Festival. 

It's the most important time of the year in the Chinese calendar. And one of the most important traditions, food!

Every dish here has a special meaning. In Sichuan, pork, chicken, duck and fish are must-haves on the table. The word "fish" for example, sounds very similar to "surplus" in Chinese, so it represents good wishes for the next year. Some dishes are steamed in a bowl and served upside down on a plate, the round shape symbolizing a family reunited.

LUO YONGHONG Banquet Host "This year, our family is the first amongst our relatives to host a banquet. I prepared some simple meals at home. From now on, we'll start to visit different relatives, enjoy banquets like this, until the Spring Festival."

But traditional Sichuan cuisine is not simple at all.

To satisfy more than 70 relatives, the Luo family will need to start preparing ingredients one day in advance. The cured meat was made a month ago.

Some of the recipes are so complicated, they take more than 20 steps, so they were traditionally only available during the holidays.

Tian Gang is the chef this year. He just returned home yesterday.

TIAN GANG Villager "I am 24 years old. I started preparing the reunion banquet for my family when I was 16. It has been eight years. I'm very happy to see that they enjoy my food."

YANG SHANGFENG Villager "Most people only come back during the Spring Festival, and we only see each other once a year. I really enjoy this atmosphere."

The sound of firecrackers means that the banquet is ready to be served.

GUO TIANQI Qianwei County, Leshan City "A family reunion during the Spring Festival is an important celebration in China. As young Chinese from the cities have returned back to their hometowns. Delicious foods are a very comforting setting for them as they had struggled for a whole year, living far away from their homes."

As livelihoods improve, many traditional foods are no longer only available during the Spring Festival. But taking time and effort to cook for a whole family is still the best way to express love.

Guo Tianqi, CGTN, Leshan, Sichuan Province.