PHOTOS: 'La Toma-CHINA' - it's puree fun in Beijing

In true Chinese 'copy-cat culture,' hundreds of tomato-tossers gathered in the streets of Beijing on Sunday July 6 to participate in what organizers are calling "mini La Tomatina."

La Tomatina, often known as the world's largest food fight, is now held annually in July throughout Chinese cities.

This year's Beijing event attracted many Chinese and foreign tossers, who jubilantly wallowed in tomato puree while hurling tomatoes at suspecting and unsuspecting victims, and occasionally copping one to the face. 

Literally tossing out China's time-honored resourcefulness, these tomato-smothered party-goers were publicly criticized for wasting food.  

What started off as purely a tomato throwing fight eventually escalated to an all-out food fight including cream and beer as a weapons of choice, with some even targeting themselves. 

Many participants took it all too seriously, donning over-the-top protective clothing to mitigate the consequences of getting walloped by the acidic fruit. Attending in togs complete with swim-cap and goggles seemed to be the order of the day.

In true Spanish tradition, the festival finished with a degrading rinse-off from clean on-lookers.