From street stalls to world markets

President Xi Jinping visited Shaxian during an inspection tour of Fujian on March 23, 2021. He visited a food street and talked with local vendors. Highlighting the role that local snacks and similar industries can play in driving rural development, Xi encouraged people in the industry to innovate and improve their businesses.

In the decades since Shaxian's humble food stalls first became popular, their snacks have become a nationwide phenomenon. There are more than 80,000 outlets across China, as well as a presence in dozens of countries and regions.

The Shaxian snack industry ranges from small workshops to large factories, from itinerant vendors selling snacks from carts to modern franchise operations, and from humble village outlets to international operations. This thriving industry is now a powerful driver of both farm incomes and the local economy.