The “Flavors of China” event transformed UNESCO’s Paris headquarters into an immersive journey through Chinese civilization, attracting over 1,000 diplomats and cultural luminaries. Four experiential zones transported guests across dynasties: the “Elegance of Song” banquet presented Dongpo pork and crab-stuffed oranges on replica celadon ware, while Confucian banquet carvings revealed the philosophy of “ritual and cuisine as one.” The air filled with the aroma of Jingshan tea ceremony preparations, where master tea artists demonstrated the 12-step Song dynasty whisking ritual alongside Chaozhou gongfu tea techniques. Nearby, a Chaosu embroidery artisan elevated peony petals with three-dimensional stitching, while a sugar painter conjured zodiac animals in molten caramel – their hands moving with the precision of calligraphers.
Virtual Reality Bridges Ancient and Modern China
The highlight emerged in the VR pavilion, where headsets transported guests to 11th-century Bianjing. Participants strolled bustling canalside markets as Su Shi’s poetry echoed through the virtual landscape, then joined scholarly gatherings where inkstones met wine cups in perfect literati harmony. “This isn’t just technology – it’s time travel,” remarked UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay while removing her headset, “I finally understand why Su Dongpo wrote that ‘the world’s finest flavor is serene joy.'” The groundbreaking “Encountering Su Shi” experience, developed by China’s cultural archives with historians and VR engineers, represents a new frontier in digital heritage preservation.
Culinary Diplomacy Strengthens Cultural Ties
Behind the scenes, the event marked significant Sino-French cultural cooperation, with France’s Foundation for Innovation and Prospective contributing Renaissance-era tableware to dialogue with Song porcelain. Parisian Michelin chefs observed as Confucian banquet masters arranged “Six Arts” platters with architectural precision. “We’re not just sharing recipes, but cosmological worldviews,” explained event curator Dr. Li Wen of China Arts and Entertainment Group. As guests departed with tea-scented fingers and VR-inspired wonder, the evening affirmed gastronomy’s power to build bridges – one exquisite bite at a time.
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