Liu Minxia

mllmx@163.com

THE opening of the Shenzhong Link is fueling an increase in travelers crossing it to explore the other side of the Pearl River Estuary, which has led to a surge in business for eateries on both sides, according to a report released Monday by e-commerce food delivery platform Meituan.

In the first week of the link’s launch, searches on Meituan related to the new transport link increased 400% on the Shenzhen side, leading to a noticeable 20% rise in food delivery orders. Terms like “eateries near the Shenzhong Link” have become the most popular search queries, with many of the food delivery consumers being young individuals in their 20s and 30s.

Meituan data also show that during the week, Longhua District, as well as Shajing and Fuyong subdistricts in Bao’an District were the top areas for food delivery orders.

“Sales of several dishes, like barbecue and roasted goose, have doubled in the past week. Our dine-in services are also thriving due to the surge of visitors through the Shenzhong Link, surpassing our expectations,” Meituan cited a Shenzhen eatery manager as saying in the report.

On the other side of the link, the demand for food is equally high. Over the weekend, 19-year-old Shenzhener Xu Fei went to Zhongshan with friends in search of delectable cuisine.

“With help from social media and online influencers, we’ve curated our own food map to explore Zhongshan delicacies,” she said.

In just one day, Xu sampled a variety of Zhongshan specialties, including Zhongshan pigeon, crisped grass carp, curry chicken wings, clay pot rice, and coconut pudding. Xu said she plans to return the following weekend with her parents.

According to Guo Juyou, vice president of the Zhongshan Catering Industry Association and founder of Youshan Restaurant, there has been a continuous rise in restaurant foot traffic following the Shenzhong Link’s opening, with private dining areas consistently booked to capacity and scarcely any vacant tables in the public dining section.

“The litchi wood-roasted goose, a signature dish of our restaurant, has been a standout favorite among patrons. We prepared over 80 roasted geese and more than 400 pigeons Saturday alone to ensure every guest could savor the distinctive flavors of Zhongshan,” Guo said.

Zhang Weixiong, chairman of Shiqi Laolao Zhongshan Restaurant, said the booming business following the link’s opening caught him off guard.

“On Saturday afternoon, we received nearly 2,000 diners, and many patrons specifically made the visit for our renowned Shiqi pigeon. Sales of our pigeons have risen 20% to 30% daily recently,” he said.