China Cittaslow continues to deepen the practice of the Cittaslow concept, strengthen the cohesiveness of China Cittaslow, and further explore the Cittaslow diet, festivals and activities, and Cittaslow publicity, forming more effective and characteristic practices.
First, to promote the concept of slow food. During the Lotus Festival from June to August, local seasonal ingredients such as lotus roots, lotus seeds, lotus flowers, lotus leaves, shrimps and fish are selected and improved to develop special dishes such as lotus flower cake, fresh lotus root and fruit platter, steamed lotus leaves with preserved flavours, crispy shrimp glue and flowery lotus root, baked chicken with lotus root, freshly squeezed lotus root and snow pear juice, handmade noodles with lotus leaves in secret shrimp sauce, etc. A total of six cold dishes, eight hot dishes, one soup, two snacks, one main dish, one dessert, two drinks and one fruit plate. The lotus-themed feast has high value and good taste, not only focusing on "colour, aroma and taste", but also "nourishment and tonic", cultivating people's habit of using and eating lotus, promoting the traditional culture of Gaochun, and becoming a new trendy way for people to experience Gaochun in depth in summer. The second is the launch of the snail cultural creation ice-cream. The ice cream is shaped by Cittaslow’s snail LOGO and the word "cittaslow", with three flavours of milk, strawberry and chocolate, white, pink and brown respectively, the cartoonish and cute snail shape and various flavours make the snail literary creation ice cream popular as soon as it is launched, especially for children and young people.
Second, to promote the cittaslow tourism. First, vigorously hold festivals, adhere to the concept of sharing the joy of cittaslow, further explore the integration of cittaslow and tourism, continue to hold the Cole Flower Tourism Festival, Crab Festival and other activities that already have a high reputation, at the same time, combined with the market demand and the characteristics of cittaslow scenic area, cultivate the Mountain Flower Art Festival, Gucheng Lake Resort Outdoor Life Festival, Youzi Mountain Chinese Style Cultural Life Festival and other sub-brand festivals, through trekking and flower appreciation, the festivasl have enriched the entertainment programs through various small activities such as the Earth Art Exhibition, the Concert in the Valley, the Mountain Flower Market, the Hanfu Show, etc., so that people can enjoy slow life and increase their sense of happiness, satisfaction and gain with leisure and holiday tourism. Second, optimize the digital cittaslow platform. The Travel-in-cittaslow WeChat mini-app was launched in September 2021, and the first phase already has functions such as event reservation, hotel reservation, product sales and consultation and browsing, etc. In 2022, the development of the second phase of Travel-in-cittaslow was completed, simplifying the reservation process, expanding online products, adding interactive functions such as online customer service, popular Q&A, comments and likes, as well as marketing functions such as coupons, group buys, sekill, lucky draws, etc., further improving the convenience and experience of the app. The program further enhances the convenience of use and experience, allowing people to easily travel to Gaochun on one mobile phone and experience the charm of cittaslow culture.
Third, promote the development of cittaslow. Firstly, we have amplified the volume of cittaslow communication. The first international cittaslow promotional film was filmed and released, showcasing the rich and diverse construction achievements of China's cittaslow cities and creating a vivid and three-dimensional image of the international cittaslow cities. The film was recorded with the participation of President Mauro Migliorini and Secretary-General Pier Giorgio Oliveti from CI HQ, representatives of China's cittaslow network and representatives of candidate area, and was broadcast on many mainstream media platforms in China, effectively enhancing the visibility and reputation of cittaslow. Second, continue to do a good job of routine work. On-line participation in the International Cittaslow Conference to understand the trend and work plan of Cittaslow; organization of participation in Cittaslow Practice Awards to actively display the practical achievements of cittaslow cities in China; collection of annual fees and supervision of the work to regulate the order of cittaslow in China; inspection and guidance of the declared areas to help accurately understand the concept of cittaslow. These efforts have better implemented the requirements and initiatives of the headquarters of the International Cittaslow Headquater and promoted the healthy development of Cittaslow Cities in China.
