SCO Pancake Festival: Beijing-Tianjin experts unveil century-old pancake heritage

The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit will be held in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1. CGTN Stringer will bring you a series on the culinary culture of member states showcasing how the pancake, a universal thin wrap embracing endless fillings, has taken on different textures and flavors across China, India, Türkiye and Russia.

The history of Tianjin's iconic jianbing guozi (a crispy-filled crepe) dates back nearly a century, with its first written mention in the Dagong bao (the Impartial Daily newspaper) of Tianjin on November 20, 1929. Beijing's Kunqu Opera performer and folklore expert Zhang Weidong, alongside Song Guanming of the Tianjin Jianbing Guozi Association, shared stories tracing the evolution of pancakes in Beijing and Tianjin, highlighting how this humble street food became a cultural symbol.