（Source: People.cn）

As the Year of the Horse Chinese New Year approaches, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “Taste of China” brand event—”Discovering Jiangnan Flavours: Exquisite Changzhou Cuisine Riverside Tasting Banquet”—was held on the banks of the River Thames in London on 11 February. Hosted by the China National Tourist Office (CNTO) London, co-hosted by the World Federation of Chinese Catering Industry, and organised by the Jiangsu Changzhou Catering Association, the event welcomed over a hundred invited guests from the cultural, tourism, and catering sectors of both the UK and China.

Set against the backdrop of Jiangnan culture and themed around Changzhou cuisine, the event showcased the exquisite style and humanistic connotations of China’s regional culinary culture through a menu tasting. During their interactive exchanges, guests experienced the unique charm of Chinese culinary culture up close.

Zhang Li, Director of CNTO London, stated at the event that for overseas Chinese and international students, the “Taste of China” carries profound nostalgic memories of their homeland. For British friends, it serves as an important window to get closer to Chinese culture and understand Chinese society and the spiritual world of the Chinese people. Through the presentation of regional cuisines, the diversity and inclusivity of Chinese culture can be presented in a more multi-dimensional and vivid manner.

Zhang Li pointed out that as China and the UK are currently promoting the stable development of bilateral relations, people-to-people and cultural exchanges are a crucial bond for consolidating the public foundation of the relationship between the two countries. Tourism and gastronomy, as the most approachable forms of exchange, play a positive role in fostering mutual understanding. The Chinese side looks forward to hosting more high-quality and meaningful cultural and tourism exchange events in the UK in the future, and welcomes more British friends to visit China for exchange and travel.

Fu Xueping, President of the Changzhou Culinary and Catering Industry Association, led a team of state-banquet-level chefs to the UK for this occasion, comprehensively demonstrating the characteristics and high standards of Changzhou cuisine in terms of ingredient selection, cooking techniques, and contemporary presentation. While retaining the fresh, elegant style typical of Jiangnan cuisine, the featured dishes also focused on integrating with international dietary habits. This reflects the innovative development of China’s regional cuisines alongside their preservation, providing British guests with an opportunity to closely understand Chinese culinary culture.

The event also featured a dedicated display area for tea and fine wine from Changzhou. Through tea tasting and introductions to wine culture, guests gained further insight into Changzhou’s characteristics and heritage in traditional tea culture and brewing techniques. In addition, an artist from Changzhou performed live, improvised sand painting. Using landmark elements of both Changzhou and London as visual cues, the performance presented an artistic dialogue between the two cities, showcasing the unique aesthetic appeal and inclusivity of Chinese intangible cultural heritage art to the British guests.