On March 14, Xi'an's first Cai Jia Bing Competition kicked off at Xi'an Concert Hall. Enthusiastic contestants flocked to the booths, showcasing their skill in selecting ingredients, artfully adding fillings, and expertly assembling their bing (flatbread).

Cai Jia Bing: a popular local street food—a crispy flatbread stuffed with various vegetables, egg, or meat.

Ultimately, the champion went to "Mr. Wengweng" from Hanzhong, who clinched first place with a stuffed flatbread weighing a remarkable 1759.3 grams. Surpassing 1.75 kilograms, this colossal champion creation became the undisputed highlight of the competition.

Before the competition began, over a dozen long tables in the assembly area were lined with 20 different ingredients, such as shredded potato, carrot, purple cabbage, and crispy rice crust. Contestants holding flatbread queued up in long lines at the booths.Actually, this fun competition grew out of a creative pun: in Chinese internet and performance slang, a highly anticipated show is playfully called a "bing" (饼), which sounds exactly like the word for "flatbread" in the local snack Cai Jia Bing. The idea also came from a lovely tradition among theatergoers: many visitors like to buy a beef sauce flatbread in the lobby before a performance, chatting about the show while waiting for it to begin. Gradually, "going to the theater for a bing" became a special little ritual. This warm, daily habit inspired the event, and it proved extremely popular: all 2,000 competition spots were snapped up the night the activity was announced, with an impressive 1,400 attendees visiting the theater for the very first time.

"We realized that many theatergoers want more than just a two-hour performance—they also want to experience real city life before and after the show. This inspired the idea of bringing Xi'an's beloved local flavors into the theater, letting visitors enjoy the city's vibrant culture alongside art." Wang Chu, Brand Director of Xi'an AIYUE Theater Management, explained that this vision led to the event, offering a more relaxed and down-to-earth way to experience the theater.

In recent years, AIYUE Theater Management has explored innovative and open uses of theater space. By offering a rich mix of cultural and lifestyle activities, it has encouraged more residents to visit and connect with the theater, making culture a natural part of daily life.