Expats impressed by local food in Yangzhou

Samples of Huaiyang cuisine are displayed during the event on Aug 7. [Photo/jschina.com.cn]

A group of young expats from 18 countries visited Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, on Aug 7, enjoying its rich history and culture, and its vibrant culinary scene.

Huaiyang cuisine and breakfast tea make up the food culture in Yangzhou. The city was designated in 2019 as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, making it the fourth city in China to win the title after Chengdu, Shunde and Macao.

A master shows his knife skills for Wensi tofu. [Photo/cnyzhc.com]

Huaiyang cuisine is best known for its delicate processes, especially exquisite knife skills which are needed for Wensi tofu. To make the dish, square tofu is cut into more than 5,000 shreds, making the whole piece look just like a chrysanthemum in bloom.

Not only did the expats see displays of wonderful knife skills during the event, but master chefs from Fuchun Teahouse also made one of the famous local snacks, fei cui shao mai. The chefs rolled out dough for the dim sum in 30 seconds, greatly surprising the expats.

The visitors were also impressed by the many iconic Yangzhou dishes they tasted.

A foreign student tries to make Yangzhou-style dim sum. [Photo/jschina.com.cn]

In the afternoon, the group of expats visited various scenic areas in Yangzhou, including the 486 intangible cultural heritage area and the Three Knives characteristic block, to learn about the history and development of local food.

The expats all agreed that this tour gave them a great chance to appreciate the charm of Huaiyang cuisine.