Chefs put more than 1,000 puffer fish into a giant pot at the freshwater fish festival held in Zhangjiagang on April 2. [Photo from WeChat account zjgcitynews]

The foodies' reactions were the best answer – they spoke highly of the tender fish and delicious soup.

"My favorite way to prepare the puffer fish is to stew it in brown sauce, but this boiled dish in clear soup sends forth the authentic taste and flavor that condiments can never rival," one tourist said.

The month-long festival also features a variety of activities, such as a photo contest for shutterbugs to capture the fresh-water delicacies and the event's memorable moments. There is even a competition for foodies' to show off their culinary skills.

Tourists can also delve more into local culture by attending traditional Jiangnan-style (south of the Yangtze River Delta) wedding ceremonies, watching cultural wedding performances, and trying their hands at various crafts, all listed as local intangible cultural heritages.