Thai Students Enjoy a Culinary Journey in Fuzhou
Savoring Unique Flavors, and Experiencing Culinary Skills
Thai Students Enjoy a Culinary Journey in Fuzhou
Students from Thailand experience making sweet potato balls. (Photo courtesy of Fujian Polytechnic Normal University)
“Our students had an unforgettable experience exploring Chinese culinary culture and have fallen deeply in love with Fuzhou, China, and its cuisine...” On the 30th, Xiao Jing, a teacher at Fujian Polytechnic Normal University, was delighted to receive a thank-you letter from the Chairman of the School Board of Rayong Public Guanghua School in Thailand. It expressed gratitude for the well-organized “2024 ‘Chinese Bridge’ Summer Camp for Thai Students Culinary Delicacies of China,” held by Fujian Polytechnic Normal University.
The summer camp was hosted by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education and organized by Fujian Polytechnic Normal University from March 18 to 27.
This year’s summer camp was different from previous ones, as it used food as a bridge to take the students from Thailand’s Rayong Public Guanghua School on a sensory journey. It wasn’t just a sightseeing trip; it offered an immersive dive into Fujian cuisine. From learning about the preservation of traditional dishes to discovering innovations in modern workshops, and from the guidance of intangible cultural heritage inheritors to their hands-on practice, each step was a deep blend of culture and craftsmanship.
Beyond cuisine, the Thai students also took part in food-themed folk painting and ceramic tableware workshops in Fuqing, where they experienced the charm of traditional Chinese craftsmanship. They visited modern food production enterprises as well, gaining fresh insights into China’s food industry and a deeper appreciation for the diligence and ingenuity of the Chinese people.
During the summer camp, a visiting professor at the university who is also a recognized inheritor of intangible cultural heritage explained the process of making sweet potato balls to the Thai students. He introduced the recipe and guided them through the hands-on process, not only passing down the traditional Chinese culinary technique but also deepening their understanding of the richness of Chinese culture.
The students visited Sanfang Qixiang in Fuzhou, Longshou Bridge, and the thousand-year-old Song Well in Fuqing, immersing themselves in the cultural heritage of Fuzhou. They also toured Chengguan Primary School, a century-old institution on the site of the ancient Confucian Temple in Fuqing, further strengthening the friendship and exchange between Chinese and Thai students.
A relevant official from Fujian Polytechnic Normal University shared that the university will continue to build on its strengths in “Chinese + Vocational Skills” to foster deeper cultural exchanges between China and other countries, aiming to create more platforms for young people to engage with the world, while consistently shaping a reliable, admirable and respectable image of China and better telling the stories of both China and Fuzhou. (Fuzhou Daily Reporter: Lin Rongsheng)