On Aug. 28 the Shanghai Office of Fukuoka City Hall set up a booth at the Guangzhou Expo to publicize Fukuoka in China. City Hall hopes the booth will entice Chinese to come visit Fukuoka. The booth featured a yatai-style ramen stand operated by Hakata Ikkousha, a Fukuoka-based ramen chain with shops in Guangzhou and Beijing. The ramen proved quite popular, with long lines forming during lunchtime. The booth also had pamphlets from all of the prefectures of Kyushu in an effort to promote the appeal of the entire island. As more Chinese tourists flock to Japan, Kyushu is gradually gaining popularity as an alternate destination to Tokyo and Kyoto. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 8/29
