Eleven international students from Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Cote d’Ivoire, and Pakistan studying at Taizhou University were entertained to a “1000-people Banquet” held at the “10-mile Street” in Luqiao—a district of Taizhou—on March 2nd. The banquet is a program of the Luqiao “Merry Spicy” Event themed on “Seeking Warm Luqiao, Tasting Ginger Fragrance”.

The banquet was a “ginger”-flavored feast, which was a completely new experience for the international students. They tasted 13 dishes which are characteristic of Taizhou flavor, such as shredded ginger with sea cucumber, steamed yellow croaker with ginger, fish noodles with ginger sauce, and walnut stewed with ginger and eggs, and others. They marveled at the perfect fusion of different ingredients and the “ginger” flavor. In addition to enjoying the delicacies, these international students learned about Chinese traditional culture, appreciated traditional wedding customs, strolled along the 10-mile Street, and took photos at the scenic spots showcasing the ancient Song Dynasty charm. Taizhou is located in the southeast coastal region of China and assumes heavy humidity. In traditional Chinese medicine, ginger is known for its function to dispel cold and dampness. Therefore, people in Taizhou have got into the habit of consuming ginger.

SOTVOLDIEVA MOKHINISO, a student from Uzbekistan, said, “Many Chinese dishes are something I’ve tasted for the first time. They taste really good. Apart from tasting delicious food, we also watched a performance of a Chinese-style wedding, which was very interesting. It is a great event. I am very happy to have the opportunity to participate!” ZEESHAN MUHAMMAD, who is from Pakistan, said, “The dishes today are unforgettable. They are flavors I haven’t experienced before. The people here are very friendly, and the architecture along the 10-mile Street has distinctive traditional Chinese features. I hope more people can appreciate the beauty of the Street. I’m grateful to the university for giving me the opportunity to participate in this event.”

In the colorful activities of the “Merry Spicy” Banquet, international students experienced and appreciated the traditional spicy cuisine of Luqiao, feeling the strong momentum of Taizhou’s bid to become the “World Capital of Cuisine,” Luqiao District’s creation of landmark cuisine brands, and the promotion of high-quality development of the “Merry Spicy” food industry in Luqiao District. It deepened their understanding of Chinese traditional culture and Chinese-style modernization. This event is one of the series of social practices for international students studying at Taizhou University. The series is called “Perceiving China”- Foreign “Travelers” in China.