Meat in demand as autumn begins

As China entered autumn with Wednesday's arrival of the solar term liqiu, which means temperatures across most of the country have started to cool gradually, people are indulging in various foods and delicacies to celebrate the seasonal transition, hoping for health and a better life.

During liqiu, people in northern China traditionally engage in a practice known as tieqiubiao, a custom of eating more food, especially meat, to make up for the loss of appetite and weight during the hot summer.

Businesses, especially restaurants and stores selling meat that is traditionally consumed during liqiu, have prepared to meet the demand, with sales of meat dishes in many restaurants and eateries in Beijing surging significantly, creating a bustling market scene.

At a store of Beijing's time-honored food brand Daoxiangcun in the capital's Changping district, customers flocked to purchase ready-to-eat foods such as cooked pork, fried fish and sausages on Wednesday morning.

Store manager Liu Jianjun said that in recent days, customers have been waiting outside the store even before opening hours, with the staff working tirelessly from morning till afternoon.

"To ensure a steady supply of various cooked meats, we have stocked up two to three times the usual amount," he said. "Additionally, our company has distributed 9,000 servings of lotus leaf stuffed with pork at our stores citywide for free to celebrate the start of autumn with our customers."

Bo Zhiwang, deputy general manager of Beijing Daoxiangcun, said that with more than 70 varieties available, the daily supply of ready-to-eat meat products can reach up to 200 metric tons, catering to people's daily dining needs.

"We place great importance on food quality and taste," he said. "For instance, we don't use machines to chop or stir-fry our products to save time or cost. We still have chefs to cook in order to maintain their desired texture and flavor."

Zhang Li, a loyal Beijing Daoxiangcun customer, expressed her satisfaction with the consistent quality and taste over the years, saying that it's like having an additional kitchen at home.

"For every traditional festival related to food, I come to Daoxiangcun stores, such as buying zongzi for Dragon Boat Festival and mooncakes for Mid-Autumn Day," she said. "With the arrival of liqiu, I came to purchase meat-based ready-to-eat dishes."

However, experts reminded the public to avoid excessive indulgence.

At a news conference held by the National Health Commission on Tuesday, Gong Yanbing, a physician at Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, said people should not blindly engage in excessive eating during liqiu. Consuming too much high-calorie and high-fat foods may increase the risks of obesity, high levels of lipids and coronary heart disease.

"It is advisable to focus on a balanced diet rather than excessive indulgence during liqiu," she said. "For individuals already dealing with obesity or high lipids, caution is especially advised."