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When Daidai observed that her father was no longer able to slaughter two pigs for a traditional community feast preceding Chinese New Year, she turned to social media for assistance.
Her primary concern was to spare him any feelings of inadequacy.
“Can anyone lend a hand?” she posted on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, late last week. “My father is aging, and I worry he can’t manage these pigs alone.”
Daidai, in her 20s, promised a pork banquet for those who journeyed to their village, Qingfu, to offer their support.
In the rural regions of Sichuan and Chongqing, expansive community meals play a significant role in the local culture, typically featuring twice-cooked pork, steamed ribs, soup, and homemade liquor.
“I want to maintain our family’s standing in the village,” she stated.
Her appeal garnered over a million likes, and the subsequent response was reminiscent of a heartwarming film, as thousands of vehicles arrived, transporting far more people than were needed for the task.
The overwhelming influx of volunteers led to significant traffic congestion on roads in this rural part of Chongqing, located in southwestern China. Drone footage depicted long queues of cars, flanked by rice fields, as people hoped to reach Qingfu. Some opted to walk long distances to circumvent the traffic.
Daidai cautioned drivers unfamiliar with rural conditions to exercise caution on the roads.
“The atmosphere has been wonderful. It brought back memories of my childhood when my family still raised pigs. I haven’t experienced anything like this in years,” a man who drove over 100 kilometers (65 miles) to participate told the BBC.
He reported seeing license plates from across the country.
The pig slaughter and subsequent banquet were live-streamed to over 100,000 viewers, accumulating 20 million likes. The local government recognized the event as a potential tourism opportunity.
With the number of attendees exceeding the capacity of two pigs to feed, tourism officials donated additional pigs. Local restaurants catered to the crowds with outdoor seating.
This event underscores how quickly a seemingly small request can escalate into a large-scale phenomenon in the digital age.
“I anticipated perhaps a dozen people would come,” Daidai told Chinese media. “But the turnout has been overwhelming.”
The enthusiastic response appears to reflect a yearning among Chinese citizens for community cultural events, as well as a desire for positive experiences during challenging times.
Daidai expressed disbelief at the speed of events. After posting her request for assistance last Friday, the response was so significant by Saturday that she alerted the police, who deployed additional officers to manage the situation.
The banquet, which had grown substantially, spanned two days. The initial 1,000 diners on January 11th increased to 2,000 the following day, with bonfires and celebrations continuing late into the night, accompanied by live music.
Daidai eventually announced the conclusion of her celebration, encouraging further visitors to explore the region but to refrain from visiting her home. After only four hours of sleep over two days, she confessed to being exhausted.
Nevertheless, the event proved to be a remarkable occasion for her and her village.
She expressed her gratitude to all the strangers who responded to her call, stating that “without your enthusiasm and passion, a feast of this magnitude would not have been possible.”
“For everyone who participated, it felt like being part of a large family. It was genuinely warm, comforting, and meaningful.”
She also thanked government officials and the police for facilitating the sudden, large-scale celebration.
There is speculation that the now-renowned Hechuan region, where Daidai’s village is located, may seek to establish this event as a regular occurrence, capitalizing on the demand for authentic, community-driven experiences in a world often perceived as isolating and disconnected from cultural roots.
A villager quoted in the People’s Daily stated: “Here, neighbors support each other. Today, I might assist you in slaughtering a pig, and tomorrow, you might come to my home to do the same.”
Regarding Daidai’s father, she said in an interview: “My dad is very happy. Seeing so many people arrive, he had to borrow tables and chairs from other villagers. We’ve never experienced anything like this before.”
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