Yu Chunxi, a member of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and vice chairman of the Jiangjin District Federation of Industry and Commerce, proposed that Chongqing should integrate cultural creativity into promoting landmark foods, helping to establish Chongqing as a world-renowned gastronomy destination at the Chongqing Two Sessions.

Yu Chunxi, a member of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. (Photo/Yan Wei)

Chongqing is establishing itself as an international consumption center, according to Yu Chunxi. Chongqing's development into a global consumption center will be enhanced by the construction of a world-renowned gastronomy destination. 

As one of the business cards of Chongqing, food such as Chongqing noodles and hot pot are increasingly popular. Chongqing has a splendid Bayu culture with a long history of more than 3,000 years. As for Chongqing's intangible cultural heritage, it is colorful and unique, but for it to become more innovative, it needs to be better integrated with Chongqing cuisine.

How to combine the characteristics of Chongqing and innovate in inheritance to build Chongqing into a world-renowned gastronomy destination full of culture, delicacies, history, and stories and make it the characteristic and highlight of Chongqing as an international consumption center?

In order to increase the international influence of Chongqing food culture, he suggested that cultural and creative products such as "Legends of Chongqing Food and Historical and Cultural Celebrities," "Craftsmanship and Inheritance of Chongqing Famous Dishes," and "Stories of Chongqing Chefs and Chongqing Famous Dishes" be developed. 

The exploration, operation, and expression of cultural creativity have enabled dishes such as Mashed Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, and Chicken Tofu Pudding to become classic dishes of contemporary Chongqing cuisine.

He also suggested building a "geographical indication cultural restaurant" that integrates local ingredients, culture, and food. For example, the public brand "Taste of Jiangjin in Xi Town" created in Jiangjin, organically integrates Sichuan pepper in Jiangjin, local specialties, and Jiangjin food. By extending the catering industry chain and combining it with production and processing, cultural experience, ancient towns and blocks, industrial tourism, rural tourism, and other related scenarios, new catering consumption scenarios can be created in order to make Chongqing food more culturally relevant.