Factory tours grow as cool choice to beat summer heat

It started with a guide telling Lu and her boyfriend about the company's history. They then entered an interactive zone designed like an old-fashioned luosifen snack shop, complete with tables full of plastic models of the dish and its ingredients.

"The whole idea is to show visitors how they produce the noodles. There was even a life-sized luosifen bowl where we could take photos. Completing check-in tasks earned us small gifts and postcards — that part was really fun," she said.

The final stop was a luosifen buffet, which was the biggest highlight for fans of the dish like Lu. However, as they had arrived in the afternoon, only the packaging and e-commerce departments were still operating because most of the production work is done in the morning.

"In the past, traveling meant seeing natural scenery. Factory tours were a fresh experience for me," said Lu.

"Since Liuzhou is the hometown of luosifen, visiting this factory helped me understand its production process and history. It made me realize that travel isn't just about nature — it's also about culture and local traditions."

When asked if the tour felt niche enough, Lu said buying the 36-yuan ($5) entrance ticket was worthwhile.

"Many friends have posted pictures of their visits to Liuzhou on WeChat Moments, but none seem to have visited a luosifen factory," she said.