The 21st China (Hangzhou) Gourmet Festival kicks off at the Sheraton Hotel in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province on Sept 17. [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]

The 21st China (Hangzhou) Gourmet Festival kicked off at the Sheraton Hotel in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province on Sept 17.

The festival, which echoes the national call to prevent food wastage, will end on Sept 20.

A map highlighting gourmet food outlets in Hangzhou's urban area and counties under its administration was unveiled during the opening ceremony.

Officials from the Ministry of Commerce and members of the catering industry from across China also took part in the event.

A few miles away, the Xixi Brook Commercial Street was filled with stalls selling food bearing distinctive Hangzhou flavors.

If you go:

Address: 21 Zijin'gang Rd, Xihu district, Hangzhou

Tourists can drive along Zijin'gang Rd and enter the underground parking lot next to a gas station, or take a special bus line for the festival, which runs every hour from 2 pm to 10 pm on Sept 18 and every half an hour from 11 am to 10 pm on Sept 19 and 20.

A local snack of Hangzhou [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]