Tens of thousands of people came together to eat a huge “Tai Ji” hotpot on Thursday in Chongqing, southwest China, for the 9th annual Chongqing Hotpot Food and Cultural Festival. /Chinanews Photo

The pot was in a “Tai Ji” shape, with two traditional flavors – spicy and original. It gathered more than 300 hotpot brands and nearly 1,000 experts in the hotpot chain food industry. /Chinanews Photo

Chongqing hot pot culture dates back to the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, famous for its various dishes and unique condiments. Nowadays the condiments have become creative, with “Hello Kitty” condiments seen in the photo. /Chinanews Photo