Food festival serves up Chengdu's finest

Metropolis show-cases culinary skill alongside Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations.

Running alongside the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations in Beijing, the Chengdu Panda Asian Food Festival has proved a tasty side dish, impressing guests from around the globe.

A common bond among all Asian nations is a love for and a rich tradition of food. As a major birthplace of Sichuan cuisine, the city of Chengdu is synonymous with food - known as the first city of gastronomy in Asia.

At the opening ceremony of the food festival, which runs from May 15 to 22, the Chengdu Catering Profession Association established the Asian Food Culture Alliance to promote better knowledge and understanding of the diverse food cultures in Asia.