Visiting expats tour Yellow River Fair in Shandong's county

Expats from Ghana, Russia and South Africa recently visited the bustling Yellow River Fair in Shanxian county – located in Heze city in East China's Shandong province – and got a great taste of an authentic local experience.

They were attracted in particular to the enticing aroma of freshly ground sesame oil at a local shop – where they found out that a bottle of the vegetable oil, derived from sesame seeds, cost just 15 yuan ($2.01) – and witnessed the entire extraction process firsthand.

In addition, sugarcane, which is abundant in the region, caught their attention as villagers brought in carts filled with the sweet crop to the market. The visitors even bought some sugarcane and were treated to a live demonstration by the seller, who expertly peeled, cut and bagged the sugarcane.

Expats wait for the peeled sugarcane. [Photo by Wang Xiaolan for chinadaily.com.cn]

To add to the fun, the fair also had the popular jiangmi gun, or Chinese village popcorn, a stick-shaped snack made from corn that instantly melts in the mouth.

The jovial vendor not only gave the expats some, but also taught them a playful trick – spelling English letters using the malleable treats.

Expats try a local snack called jiangmi gun, or Chinese village popcorn. [Photo by Wang Xiaolan for chinadaily.com.cn]

After a day filled with market hustle and bustle, all the expats said they'd had a memorable time. "I can't wait to invite my friends and experience the lively charms of the Yellow River Fair with them," said a South African visitor. (Edited by Zhou Yunlai)