A child catches snails in Sandui village, Baishanzu town, Qingyuan county, Lishui on July 22. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 5th edition of the Snail Cultural Festival commenced in Sandui village, Baishanzu town, Qingyuan county, Lishui, on July 22.

The festival offered a diverse range of activities, including snail-catching, duck herding, fish capturing, and savoring local farm cuisine.

At the snail-catching competition, participants emerged from the water, their faces beaming with joy at the bountiful harvest of snails. They compared and discussed who had caught the most and the best snails. Tourist Wu Wenyen won the championship with an impressive haul of 84 snails.

Throughout the day, the festivities continued with exhibitions showcasing the art of mushroom cultivation, traditional paper-cutting demonstrations, and the highly anticipated snail-eating competition.

Liu Changhai, Party chief of Baishanzu town, said, "the festival is not only meant to enrich the lives of local residents and stimulate cultural and tourism consumption but also to promote local snails, contributing to the development of a strong and sustainable industry."

According to Liu, Baishanzu town aims to revitalize its high-quality local resources and develop the snail industry as a means to promote friendship and prosperity.