TIANJIN, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- As night falls, bustling streets across China come alive with the aroma of street food. Weary commuters stop at roadside stalls, sitting on small stools to enjoy a hot snack and shed the day's fatigue.
This simple slice of urban life, brimming with warmth and humanity, is increasingly being propelled into the spotlight by the internet. Countless street stalls, once unnoticed, are becoming must-visit destinations for young people and integral parts of the city's cultural landscape.
In Feixian County, Linyi City, east China's Shandong Province, 43-year-old Cheng Yunfu, a noodle vendor, became an overnight sensation for a simple reason: selling a bowl of noodles for just 3 yuan (about 0.42 U.S. dollars) for 15 years without raising the price. His rustic appearance and perseverance touched netizens, earning him the nickname "Noodle Brother."
Despite his fame and appearances on variety shows, he avoided cashing in on his fame, continuing to make noodles and helping sell local agricultural products through livestreams.
Whether in metropolises or small counties, street stalls offer low barriers to entry and high flexibility. With the aid of livestreams and short videos, the "street stall economy" has reached a new level, allowing vendors to increase income through both offline sales and online traffic.
Li Junyong, 48, nicknamed "Chicken Cutlet Brother," has charmed crowds in Jingdezhen, east China's Jiangxi Province, with his "talk show-style" hawking and customer-first philosophy.
Appointed as a city tourism promoter, Li adheres to strict principles, which include selling freshly made cutlets for 6 yuan, rejecting pre-prepared ingredients, and offering discounts and priority service to students.
His unique charm went viral in September 2025, with a video of his humorous banter racking up over 10 million views and driving a nearly 40 percent increase in local tourism bookings for the following National Day holiday in October.
Despite his internet fame, Li stays true to earning "honest money," wearing a "Welcome to Jingdezhen" shirt and treating every customer with sincere hospitality, serving as a vibrant calling card for the city's tourism.
"The internet provides a broad platform for everyone with dreams and talents," said a netizen. "Any stall can become a hit with just one 'spark'."
While viral fame often seems sudden, successful stalls share common traits, which include affordability, sincerity, diligence and professionalism.
Chen Limei, known for her grilled skewers in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, believes that sincerity is essential. Her enthusiastic greeting, "Here comes, brother," captured in a short video in 2018, became a viral catchphrase. For netizens, her neighborly warmth is a precious gift in a busy society.
Such stalls add vitality and humanity to a city, and can even drive local tourism. However, sustaining fame is a challenge. Experts noted that long-term success relies on consistent quality and service rather than fleeting traffic.
City management also plays a crucial role. In Luodian Town, north of Shanghai, an influx of young residents led to the emergence of over 100 vending stalls, causing noise and sanitation complaints. To balance demand and order, local authorities established a designated area with standardized operating hours, safety requirements, and sanitation services.
With proper management, street stalls can become highlights rather than pain points of urban governance, said a local official. ■
