Quanzhou: A Creative Crossroads of Gastronomy and the Arts
Fusing Flavour with Creativity Across Disciplines
As a dynamic cultural hub on the historic Maritime Silk Road, Quanzhou has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to creativity. Through its innovative "Gastronomy Plus" concept and strategic international partnerships, the city has fostered powerful synergies between gastronomy and other UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) fields—ranging from crafts and folk arts to film, music, design, literature, architecture, and media arts.
Gastronomy Plus: Blending Culinary Heritage with Creativity
- Gastronomy + Crafts and Folk Arts
In 2023, Quanzhou hosted the 2nd Quanzhou International Design Competition and the World Ceramic Design Conference in Dehua, bringing together designers from 52 countries. The focus was on innovative tea culture, ceramic artistry, food utensil design, and packaging. This event celebrated the union of traditional crafts with modern gastronomic creativity, placing Dehua's world-renowned porcelain at the heart of global design dialogues.
- Gastronomy + Music
The 2024 "Quanzhou Nanyin & Gastronomy Feast" seamlessly fused local Nanyin music, Quanzhou cuisine, and folk customs in an immersive cultural experience. By integrating intangible cultural heritage (ICH) with everyday gastronomy, this vibrant festival enriched the city's creative tourism appeal and breathed new life into heritage traditions.
Multidisciplinary International Initiatives
- Maritime Silk Road International Documentary Film Festival
Launched in 2023, this cross-cultural initiative gathered 476 filmmakers, scholars, and creatives from 40 countries and regions, advancing global documentary storytelling. It underscores Quanzhou's role in promoting real-world narratives through film and culture.
- Media Arts: Cai Guo-Qiang's Firework Spectacles
Internationally renowned artist Cai Guo-Qiang collaborated with famed architect Frank Gehry to present multimedia exhibitions and firework performances—"Mirage" and "Red Sails"—in 2023 and 2024. These shows used traditional gunpowder art and innovative pyrotechnics to merge folklore, storytelling, and new media.
- Architecture + Literature: World Heritage "Art Plus" Initiative
At the 5th Maritime Silk Road International Art Festival, Quanzhou launched a platform where architecture, folk arts, and literature reinterpret and revitalise World Heritage Sites. This initiative inspires public appreciation, preservation, and tourism through artistic reinterpretation of historic sites.
Infrastructure and Citywide Creative Programming
Quanzhou's cultural infrastructure reflects its holistic creative vision, featuring:
Industrial Design Pavilion
Quanzhou Grand Theater
City Library & Community Libraries
Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall
Science and Technology Museum
Workers' Cultural Palace
These facilities host key annual events and initiatives across the UCCN creative fields:
Architecture: "Traditional Architecture in New Vibe" (2023) explored sustainable practices in Minnan residential restoration.
Film: China Film Screenwriting Week (2023) spotlighted new narratives and cinematic innovation.
Literature: Maritime Silk Road Quanzhou Literary Week (2023) invited renowned authors to reflect on the city's literary legacy.
Media Arts: Dehua International Ceramic Culture Week (2024) fostered design-media collaboration.
Crafts and Folk Art: Digital Cultural Creation Week (2024) combined storytelling, music, and folk traditions through digital art platforms.
A Future Built on Creative Synergy
Quanzhou's creative strategies are more than cultural celebrations—they are engines of urban innovation, sustainability, and global dialogue. By linking its rich gastronomic heritage with arts, design, and digital media, the city continues to shape a future where tradition and creativity move forward hand in hand.
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2025-05-27
Tea Meets Trend: Quanzhou Hosts Fujian's First "Tea + Fashion" Crossover Showcase
In May, the hills of Anxi were steeped in the rich aroma of tea. Under the theme "Savour the Flavour of Heritage, Embrace Fashion's Pulse," the "World Heritage Quanzhou: Capital of Fashion" event series launched a striking debut at the Huaxiangyuan Tieguanyin Tea Estate. Marking Fujian's first "tea + fashion" crossover show, Huaxiangyuan Tea joined hands with fashion label Septwolves to spotlight an imaginative dialogue between Chinese tea culture and Guochao Cultural Revival style. Guests from China and abroad, including leaders from government, business, and creative industries, gathered to witness fashion's powerful fusion with heritage in a lush tea garden setting.
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2025-03-23
Quanzhou's Cultural Renaissance: Uniting Tea, Porcelain, and Fragrance
The Anxi-Yongchun-Dehua Industrial Integration Conference & 2024 Guochao Quanzhou Tea-Porcelain Industry Summit was held on March 22 in Dehua, marking a significant milestone in regional industrial collaboration.
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2025-03-18
2025 Quangang Half Marathon & Quanzhou-Taiwan Food Carnival
2025 Quangang Half Marathon & Quanzhou-Taiwan Food Carnival Where Sport Meets Gastronomy in an Unforgettable Celebration!
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2025-03-08
Olympic Champion Deng Yaping Praises Quanzhou's Charm: "The Food Here Left the Strongest Impression on Me!"
On March 6, Olympic table tennis champion Deng Yaping visited Quanzhou as an Ambassador for the China Women's Development Foundation (CWDF) Public Welfare Program. She took part in the "Together for Her – 2025 CWDF Women's Care Charity Event in Quanzhou." During the event, Deng praised Quanzhou's vibrant food scene, rich cultural heritage, thriving industries, and the resilience of its women.
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2025-01-15
A Sweet Escape: OCOCO Chocolate Fantasy Town Opens in Shishi
On January 11, Quanzhou's latest cultural and tourism landmark—OCOCO Chocolate Fantasy Town—officially opened its doors in Shishi City, inviting visitors on a delightful winter journey filled with indulgence and discovery.