Chinese food's Intangible Cultural Heritage bids

At this year's National People's Congress (NPC) annual session, 16 NPC deputies called for an application for Chinese cuisine to be awarded UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status to be added to the national strategic agenda.

The subject has prompted heated debate on social media in China.

-Chinese cuisine is the most delicious and attractive food in all the world, with just about every type dishes. (I support this suggestion.)

-Food is the most effective way to promote cultural exchanges. After all, there are no borders among foodies.

-Do we need an 'Intangible Cultural Heritage' title to show the value of Chinese food? A lot of people like Chinese cuisine regardless of whether it's on the list. We should focus on more practical matters.

Foreigners are mad about Chinese food

Worldwide, Chinese food is also popular. The 2016 China National Image Global Survey showed that the most prominent national symbols of China are Chinese food, traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese martial arts.

Chinese food has become the most popular delivery food in the UK. [File photo: Baidu]

UK

A BBC report said Chinese food has become one of the country's dominant ethnic cuisines. In a recent survey, Chinese food beat fish & chips to become the most popular delivery food. About 12 percent of British people are reported to order delivery Chinese food at least once a week.

Chinese food in American TV dramas [File photo: China National Radio]

US

Chinese food is one of the top three favorite cuisines among Americans. The other two are Mexican and Italian food. Chinese cuisine is the first choice for food delivery in 6 American states.

Surveys show that nearly 40 percent of American youngsters like Chinese food, and over 70 percent Americans eat Chinese meals at least once a week.

Chinese food also appears frequently in American TV dramas.

Sweet and sour pork [File photo: Baidu]

Even NASA has added the famous Chinese dish 'Sweet and sour pork' to its astronauts' menu.

Previous attempts

China has tried several times since 2008 to get Chinese food listed as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. However, no attempt has succeeded so far.

Chefs cook in the kitchen. [File photo: thepaper.cn]

2011

'Traditional Chinese cooking skills' was selected as a candidate for the Intangible Cultural Heritage status, but failed to get approval from the Ministry of Culture.

Famous dishes of the "Eight Cuisines". (Top: from left to right) Shandong, Sichuan, Fujian and Cantonese cuisines. (Bottom: from left to right) Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan and Anhui cuisines. [File photo: Baidu]

2015

China chose to apply again with famous dishes from the "Eight Cuisines" but failed. The eight regional cuisines are Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan, and Zhejiang cuisines.

The family cuisine of ancient philosopher Confucius [Photo: chinadaily.com.cn]

2016

East China's Qufu city, hometown of ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, tried to make a bid for the 'family cuisine of Confucius' to be listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage item.

Difficult Choice

With a diverse system of various dishes, it seems difficult to choose a suitable candidate for the application. Here are some suggestions and reasons from netizens.

Members of a family eat together on the Chinese New Year's Eve. [File photo: qzwb.com]

Chinese New Year's Eve cuisine

The Chinese New Year's Eve cuisine is a reflection of the Chinese reunion tradition and contains Chinese family values and emotions.

Scrambled eggs with tomatoes [File photo: Baidu]

'National dishes'

Some dishes are popular all across China, such as scrambled eggs with tomatoes, stir-fried shredded potato, fried rice, etc. These dishes could represent Chinese cuisine for the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

A dish made of bean products [File photo: sohu.com]

Bean products

Bean products can be cooked in various ways, and can be related to a healthy lifestyle.

Chinese cuisine [File photo: Baidu]

Chinese cuisine as a whole

The content of Chinese cuisine is so abundant that no one dish can represent the cuisine. China should apply for Intangible Cultural Heritage status with Chinese cuisine as a whole.

Foreign successful cases

Some food-related initiatives from other countries have already been included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

(Photos courtesy of unesco.org)

(France) Gastronomic meal of the French

(Mexico) Traditional Mexican cuisine - ancestral, ongoing community culture, the Michoacán paradigm

(South Korea) Kimjang, making and sharing Kimchi in the Republic of Korea

(Japan) Washoku, traditional dietary cultures of the Japanese, notably for the celebration of New Year

(Turkey) Ceremonial Keşkek tradition

(Turkey) Turkish coffee culture and tradition

(Azerbaijan, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey) Flatbread making and sharing culture: Lavash, Katyrma, Jupka, Yufka

(Greece, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Croatia and Cyprus) Mediterranean diet