A snapshot of Wenzhou's culinary delights. [Photo/WeChat account: gowzta]
The city of Wenzhou – located in East China's Zhejiang province – is aiming to be one of the world's culinary capitals that is known for its iconic local snacks.
Locals say the place certainly has a lot going for it in its bid to raise its gastronomic profile internationally.
"Wenzhou snacks hold the key to standing out in the race for the UNESCO 'World Culinary Capital' title," said Zheng Guangyu, president of the Wenzhou Snack Association and vice-president of the Zhejiang Provincial Farmhouse Snack Association.
Zheng made his remarks during the fourth session of the 12th Wenzhou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People Political Consultative Conference on Jan 20.
His proposal advocates leveraging Wenzhou's rich culinary heritage to achieve global recognition.
With delicacies like duck tongue, fish balls, pork wontons and rice noodles, Wenzhou boasts a unique blend of local ingredients and global flavors.
Despite its strong foundation – 500 members of the Wenzhou Snack Association and 40 billion views for "Wenzhou Food" on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok – challenges remain. These include branding gaps and undeveloped food streets.
Zheng suggested forming policies to establish a "World Culinary Capital" task force, building a "Wenzhou Snacks" regional brand and integrating local snacks into cultural and tourism projects.
He also proposed food streets in key areas to showcase Wenzhou's culinary charm as a platform for global exchanges.
