"Taizhou Cuisine" Debuts at UNESCO, Empowering the Bid for "City of Gastronomy" with the Essence of "Hehe"

On February 10, the "Intangible Cultural Heritage Sends Greetings, Time-Honored Brands Celebrate Spring — A Dialogue on Mutual Learning of Civilizations and Win-Win Cooperation" Chinese New Year Reception was inaugurated at UNESCO Headquarters.

The Taizhou Cuisine Overseas Promotion and Exchange Delegation was invited to attend, presenting Taizhou's distinctive coastal and mountain culinary delights alongside its profound cultural heritage. Through the unique gastronomic charm of "a single bite encompassing mountains and sea, brimming with Hehe harmony," Taizhou sounded a powerful international chord in its bid to be designated a UNESCO "City of Gastronomy," propelling the traditional Chinese philosophy of "Hehe" (harmony and unity) onto the global stage to radiate brilliance and convey strength.

Khaled El-Enany, current Director-General of UNESCO; Qu Xing, Deputy Director-General; and Yang Liu, President of the China Cuisine Association, jointly participated in relevant promotional sessions, engaging in in-depth exchanges with delegation members. Together, they contributed to the international dissemination of Chinese Hehe culture and injected momentum into introducing Taizhou cuisine to the world while enhancing mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations.

"The soul of Taizhou cuisine lies in the 'harmonious blend of five flavors.' This is not only a delicate balance of ingredient pairing, seasoning techniques, and culinary methods but also the core essence and spiritual kernel of Taizhou's food culture—embodying the local philosophy of living in accordance with nature and embracing inclusiveness and symbiosis," said Lin Meijun, head of the Taizhou Cuisine Overseas Promotion and Exchange Delegation and expert advisor to Taizhou's special task force for bidding to become a "City of Gastronomy." The delegation prepared several classic Taizhou signature dishes on-site for the attending guests, including Braised Yellow Croaker with Country-Style Rice and Taizhou Beef Platter with Fish Cakes. Through authentic flavors and exquisite culinary skills, international friends were immersed in the unique charm of coastal and mountainous Taizhou, gaining a taste—and understanding—of the Hehe cultural heritage and regional humanistic characteristics behind Taizhou cuisine.

Khaled El-Enany, current Director-General of UNESCO, highly praised the distinctive flavors and cultural connotations of Taizhou cuisine, commending it on the spot. Ambassadors to China from various countries and international guests also left signed messages and blessings, fully supporting Taizhou's bid to become a "Creative City of Gastronomy."

Khaled El-Enany (right), current Director-General of UNESCO, exchanges views with Lin Meijun (left), head of the Taizhou Cuisine Overseas Promotion and Exchange Delegation and expert advisor to Taizhou's special task force for bidding to become a "Creative City of Gastronomy."

At the event, the Taizhou Cuisine Overseas Promotion and Exchange Delegation specially presented UNESCO Deputy Director-General Qu Xing with Taizhou's "Hehe Erxian" (Two Immortals of Harmony) cultural and creative IP souvenirs.

The Taizhou Cuisine Overseas Promotion and Exchange Delegation presents Taizhou's "Hehe Erxian" IP cultural and creative souvenirs to Qu Xing, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO.

The "Hehe Erxian" creative works draw inspiration from the intangible cultural heritage folklore of "Hanshan and Shide" of Tiantai Mountain, Zhejiang. Hanshan and Shide, eminent monks of the Tang Dynasty, are revered by later generations as the "Two Immortals of Harmony" for their open-minded, benevolent approach to life, becoming classic symbols and spiritual carriers of Chinese Hehe culture. With the core theme of "Exquisite Taste, Hehe Harmony, Mutual Learning Among Civilizations," the works organically integrate intangible cultural heritage, traditional aesthetics, and contemporary ideals. They not only carry the profound wisdom of "harmony in diversity, coexistence and co-prosperity" inherent in traditional Chinese culture but also vividly convey the contemporary message that "civilizations shine through mutual learning and flourish through inclusiveness," using gastronomy as a connecting thread.

Taizhou cuisine's debut at UNESCO Headquarters represents a significant initiative in the city's overseas promotion of food culture and deepening of Sino-foreign civilizational exchanges. It is also a crucial step forward in Taizhou's bid to become a "City of Gastronomy." With food as a medium and culture as a bridge, Taizhou has successfully established an important platform for mutual learning and exchange between Chinese and foreign civilizations, enabling the world to better know and understand Taizhou. This effort also fosters deeper integration between Taizhou cuisine and outstanding traditional Chinese culture, enhancing the international influence of Taizhou's gastronomic offerings.

Moving forward, Taizhou will continue to deeply cultivate its food culture, advancing the integrated development of culinary traditions with intangible cultural heritage preservation, cultural tourism integration, and international exchanges. The city is fully committed to its sprint toward the "City of Gastronomy" designation, allowing the essence of "Hehe" to fragrance the world and enabling China's fine traditional culture to shine even more brilliantly on the international stage.

Translator：Jiayang Lin