Guided by International Cooperation Department of China’s National Radio and Television Administration and hosted by Radio and Television Bureau of Sichuan, Mini-Series International Communication Forum 2025 kicked off in Chengdu, Sichuan, recently, which is part of the 12th China Network Audiovisual Conference. At the Forum, the winners of Mini-Series International Competition 2025 were announced, and “Culinary Girl Celebrates Spring Festival with You” of the series Culinary Girl won an Excellence Award.

Themed on “Advancing with the Times, Showcasing Prosperous China”, this competition featured five categories and saw 506 entries competing across the genres such as modern urban life, history, culture, fantasy, rural revitalization, and intangible cultural heritage preservation.

Directed by Xia Tian, “Culinary Girl Celebrates Spring Festival with You” began filming in Wuyuan, a sub-district of Haiyan, in December last year. The 39-episode series, each lasting about 2 minutes, tells the story of Li Xinyi, a culinary prodigy who, after her mother falls into a coma, teams up with like-minded chefs to protect her family’s restaurant and uphold the dignity of Chinese cuisines against the challenges from rival gourmet masters.

The series highlights Chinese rich culinary traditions and seamlessly integrates Haiyan’s “Twelve Delicacies” into the plot: Haiyan Kohlrabi, Braised Mutton, Haiyan Tianbao, Clear-soup Braised Eel, Salted Pork with Bamboo Shoots, Salt-fried Pork, Steamed Topmouth Culter, Vinegar-braised Fish, Qianmudang’s Fish, Shrimp and Spiral Shells, Arrowhead with Pickled Vegetables, Heart-leaf Greens, and Stir-fried Nostoc Commune with Eggs, which allow viewers to savor Haiyan’s unique food culture while enjoying the storyline.

The series began to premiere on iQiyi, Youku, Tencent Video, TikTok, and Kuaishou on January 29, 2025, and has already secured distribution deals in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar, etc.