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A chef prepares dishes inspired by celebrities in Shaoxing on Sept 2. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Residents of Shaoxing in Zhejiang province are now able to savor dishes once enjoyed by China's literary giant Lu Xun, as local chefs transform his writings into culinary creations.

The initiative was launched on Sept 2 in Yuecheng district under the Local Master Chefs program.

At the event, chefs presented a celebrity-inspired menu featuring recipes drawn from literary references to Lu Xun, the Shaoxing-born writer whose works shaped modern Chinese literature.

Food frequently appeared in Lu Xun's works. In Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk, he recalled the freshness of water caltrops, fava beans, wild rice stems, and muskmelons.

In Storm in a Teacup, he depicted the flavor of steamed dried mustard greens served with pine-pollen-yellow rice.

Chefs involved in the program said they aim to promote Shaoxing's culinary heritage by recreating dishes from books. Organizers added that the initiative forges a tangible link between cuisine, cultural memory, and historical figures.

More celebrity-inspired menus are expected to follow, offering residents and visitors not only local flavors but also a deeper connection to the city's cultural identity.