Delicate Yangzhou cuisine wins hearts of foreign diplomats

The Spring Festival Reception by China Public Diplomacy Association and Yangzhou Cuisine Tasting was held in grand style on Jan 15 in Beijing, capital of China. 

More than 200 distinguished guests took part in the event, including foreign diplomatic envoys to China, representatives from foreign media reporting in Beijing, and officials from the China Public Diplomacy Association and the Yangzhou municipal government. 

Guests pose for a photo at the Spring Festival Reception by China Public Diplomacy Association and Yangzhou Cuisine Tasting on Jan 15 in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/charhar.org.cn]

Hu Zhengyue, vice chairman of the China Public Diplomacy Association, expressed his gratitude to Yangzhou government for organizing the event with his association in his welcoming speech.

Hu said that this was the fifth time to jointly organize such activities with Yangzhou government.

Chen Yang, vice mayor of Yangzhou, also gave a brief introduction about Yangzhou.

"Yangzhou is the birthplace of Huaiyang cuisine－one of China's four major cooking styles－renowned for its light, fresh taste and exquisite knife work," said Chen.

"In recent years, Yangzhou has hosted many gourmet festivals and cooking competitions in a bid to promote Yangzhou cuisine as well as boost the city's international profile." 

Chen also expressed his hope that all the guests would enjoy Yangzhou cuisines and generate interest to tour the city by sampling Yangzhou delicacies. 

The Yangzhou cuisine tasting menu included signature dishes—Yangzhou dim sum, giant meatballs known as shizitou, or the Lion's Head, braised snakehead and the city's namesake fried rice.

Yangzhou fried rice.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

All the dishes were made by chefs from the most celebrated hotels in Yangzhou.

"I've heard that Yangzhou is an ancient city with a history of about 2,500 years. Yangzhou fired rice is popular worldwide and I often order the dish at Chinese restaurants," said Dang Minh Khoi, the ambassador of Vietnam to China.

"I learned today that Yangzhou is also a modern and vibrant city located in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. I will visit the city over my tenure and I hope that more and more Vietnamese will seek cooperation opportunities in Yangzhou."

"Shizitou is the best dish I've ever had,” said Lee Hon Chong, the ambassador of Mauritius to China. 

"Yangzhou cuisine is delicious. I will definitely tour the city and explore more and help more Mauritian people learn about Yangzhou." 

Yangzhou dough modeling attracts many visitors at the Spring Festival Reception by China Public Diplomacy Association and Yangzhou Cuisine Tasting on Jan 15 in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo by Nie Chao/yznews.com.cn]