Overseas expansion

陈小将

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. As cultural and business exchanges further deepen among countries and regions forming part of the Initiative, Chinese Lamian noodles makers are seeking new business opportunities there.

In 2003, Ma Fanglin from Haidong went with her family to Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, to run their first Lamian noodles restaurant. Over the next 20 years, they opened more restaurant outlets in the Chinese cities of Xi'an and Changsha, and now her husband runs one in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"We opened the Lamian noodles restaurant in Kuala Lumpur in 2016 and its size is more than 200 square meters. Its turnover per month is around 200,000 yuan," said Ma. "Local people have a dietary habit similar to ours, while we have also developed innovative dishes to suit the local customs there."

Ye Xiaolong, a 34-year-old native of Haidong, opened a Lamian noodles restaurant in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, in 2019. "A bowl of Lamian noodles only costs $5 here. It's very popular among locals because of its affordable price and good taste," said Ye, who has three Cambodian employees.

"My uncle is decorating a Lamian noodles restaurant in Bangkok, which will open soon," said Ye. "More and more people can get a taste of this food, which opens a window for them to understand Chinese food culture and China."

According to Chen Jianhong, director of the Haidong municipal local brand industry cultivation and promotion bureau, by the end of 2022, Haidong's Lamian noodles makers had opened around 40 restaurant outlets in more than 10 countries and regions along the Belt and Road.