Asian Cuisine Festival: Promoting and protecting Chinese food culture

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At the Asian Cuisine Festival, visitors not only get to try delicacies from different countries, they also get a better understanding of cultures through traditional tableware. CGTN's Wu Lei has more.

These are two sets of delicate china tableware. They aren't ordinary ones. They were used at the state banquets for leaders who attended the BRICS summit in Xiamen in 2017 and the G20 summit in Hangzhou in 2016. Experts say whenever you dine in a foreign country – aside from its food – tableware is a good way to acquaint yourself with the country's culture.

WU GUANGRONG DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ART MUSEUM, CHINA ACADEMY OF ART "These delicate tableware pieces represent the manners and customs of China. These are specially designed and prepared for state banquets. Designers have to take into full consideration their varieties, patterns, and shapes."

Designers use flowers to give china elegance and yet depict everyday life. As a main feature of several state banquets, these tableware sets have become very popular across China and the world.

WU LEI HANGZHOU "Tea sets have been a key part of Chinese food culture. And this handmade purple clay teapot is one of the most popular items among tea lovers. But this craftsmanship is at risk of disappearing."

99-year-old Gao Dezhi has been making purple clay teapots since he was 13. This kind of skill is usually passed down generations or taught to those who are passionate about the craft. But Master Gao says it is now very difficult to find such people.

GAO DEZHI PURPLE CLAY TEAPOT MASTER "My son and daughter are not interested in learning how to make teapots. They already earn a lot of money working in the finance sector. People cannot create such things if they have no interest in acquiring the skill."

In order to promote and protect skills at risk of disappearing, local authorities have built a special museum where masters can showcase their craftsmanship. Master Gao says he will continue doing this, as long as time and health permit him to.

GAO DEZHI PURPLE CLAY TEAPOT MASTER "I will always be willing to teach anyone who wants to learn this skill. Even if someone asks me to authenticate their teapots, I would always do so for free."

At the Asian Cuisine Festival, dozens of elegant purple clay teapots are on display, from which people can learn more about tea culture. As Master Gao says, the key to protecting this kind of craftsmanship is by cultivating people's interests in the art. WL, CGTN, HZ.