In the bustling streets of Yangliuqing Ancient Town in Tianjin, master Zhang pours boiling water into a small bowl containing red sorghum flour and millet flour, then sprinkles it with red sugar, sesame seeds, raisins, peanut crumbs and other toppings. What emerges is a bowl of fragrant chatang, or tea soup.

Ahmed Mohamed Saleh from Egypt couldn't wait to take a sip, his face lighting up with surprise.

"It tastes warm and sweet. I noticed there is no tea in it. Why is it called chatang, literally 'tea soup'?"

"Tea soup originated in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Because it was made by boiling water, similar to brewing tea, it was named chatang. It's especially comforting in winter, quickly warming up the body," Zhang explained.

At that time, Tianjin served as a bustling hub for water transportation, attracting merchants and travelers from all directions.

To cater to the diverse dietary needs of these travelers, a variety of local snacks emerged, with chatang becoming an indispensable one.

These intangible cultural heritage delicacies have witnessed Tianjin's transformation from a quaint water transportation town to a thriving modern metropolis and are beloved by international tourists.

Another Egyptian student, Hassan Sameh Hassan Elsayed, tasted the Sutang (crispy candy) nearby and then bought two boxes to send home. In Yangliuqing, crispy sugar, symbolizing "progress and sweetness day by day", is one of the most popular intangible cultural heritage souvenirs during Spring Festival.

"Our ancestors' craftsmanship, once enjoyed only during family reunions, has now become an industry that can bring wealth," Xu said.

During Spring Festival, Yangliuqing Ancient Town hosted over 500 various performances and interactive activities, averaging more than 70 per day. According to data from the Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, during the Year of the Horse Spring Festival, Tianjin received 11.7 percent more tourists than last year, while hotel holiday revenue increased by 9.4 percent.

"Numerous overseas visitors are traveling to China, embarking on 'China Travel'. They admire Chinese landscapes and savor Chinese cuisine, overwhelmed by the country's rich and diverse cultural products," Bai Changhong, a professor at Nankai University, wrote recently in an article published in China Broadcasts.

To meet demand, in recent years, historical and cultural tourism sites and intangible cultural heritage food shops in Tianjin have launched various cultural and creative products.

The Grand Canal runs through Yangliuqing Ancient Town, considered the hometown of traditional Chinese opera. Nowadays, the town's three treasures are the opera tower, archway and Wenchang Pavilion, which have been transformed into bookmark souvenirs, allowing visitors from around the world to experience the cultural charm of Yangliuqing.

During Spring Festival, 59 groups of traditional craftsmanship lanterns illuminated the town. Wu Mingyang, a tourist from Jilin province, said that when the lights were turned on at night, the banks of the canal were breathtakingly beautiful.

The government of Yangliuqing Ancient Town said the lantern designs integrated historical and cultural elements such as canal culture and the martial spirit.

"The deep integration of culture and tourism has become a vital force driving local economic development and improving people's quality of life," Zhang Guangjuan, the chairperson of Tianjin City Infrastructure Investment Co, said.

"The renovation and upgrade of Yangliuqing Ancient Town have preserved its unique cultural heritage while balancing 'ancient' and 'modern' elements, endowing the town with lasting vitality, Zhang added.

"Yangliuqing has now become a popular leisure destination offering tourism, appreciation, entertainment, shopping and accommodation. In the future, we will further enhance the town's brand value and popularity, stimulating consumption potential and allowing more people to experience Yangliuqing's 'most folk and international' atmosphere," Ma Wenchao, the person in charge of the tourism and culture company that participated in the planning of the lantern festival, said.

Chen Yijun contributed to this story