Jinan, capital of Shandong, took first place at a fish-themed culinary contest, which was held at the city's Huanlian Night Market from July 30 to Aug 2.

The event marked the opening round of the "Friendly Shandong" culinary championship - a four-month-long tournament designed to highlight Shandong's rich and diverse food culture.

The competition will travel across all 16 cities in Shandong, each round spotlighting a signature local ingredient. A combination of round-robin matches, eliminations, and finals will determine the gold, silver, and bronze winners, along with special awards.

The opening contest centered on local fish varieties, with chefs showcasing traditional techniques such as steaming, braising, and stewing. Professional judges and public tasters evaluated the dishes based on taste, technique, and presentation. Jinan topped the leaderboard, followed by Weifang and Qingdao in second and third place, respectively.

The Jinan team presents their fish-inspired dish at the opening round of the Shandong culinary championship in Jinan. [Photo/WeChat account: visitjinan]