In January, Beijing News reported that some purveyors of the local delicacy have been passing cheap cuts of meat from mules, horses and pigs off as donkey meat, but the local government has been clamping down on such practices, investigating and inspecting meat-processing workshops and companies.

Yin Weijiang, party secretary of Hejian says the city is trying to strengthen its donkey burger industry.

"We are bringing our donkey burger to the country putting the slogan 'the home of the Chinese donkey burger' in lights," Yin proclaims.

Seven local companies were certified as Hejian's model producers of Chinese donkey burgers by the China Hotel Association during the opening ceremony of the festival.

On the opening day, festival-goers are offered free donkey burgers, as the donkey burger development summit, production skills exhibition and donkey meat supplier exhibition get underway.