Food event in China's Xiamen cooks up a taste of Southeast Asia
BEIJING (China Daily) — In gastronomy, spices are more than ingredients — they are storytellers. A dash of cinnamon, a spoonful of chili, a swirl of curry — each holds the power to unlock centuries of trade, tradition and transformation.
The fifth season of the hit food documentary Once Upon a Bite turns its lens toward these "magical keys" of flavor, exploring how spices have journeyed across continents, shaped regional cuisines, and left lasting marks on the global food map.
This season, the series doesn't stop at storytelling — it steps off the screen and into real life.
Launched by Tencent Video and DOClabs Beijing, Once Upon a Bite introduces an immersive offline experience: A Taste of Flavor — Once Upon a Bite | Discovering Xiamen, Encountering Southeast Asia.
Why now? As travel and cultural exchange return post-pandemic, people crave real experiences. This offline journey lets them taste the story and connect more deeply with food and place.
The event debuted in April in Xiamen, a vital node on the historic Maritime Silk Road and a city known for its rich blend of culture and cuisine in Fujian province.
It began in the heart of Xiamen's "eighth market," where 15 local stalls welcomed guests to discover the city's culinary roots.
Among the highlights was satay noodles — a local specialty whose soul lies in a rich broth of ground peanuts, sesame, dried shrimp, coconut, garlic, scallions and a medley of spices. It embodies the fusion of Southeast Asian depth with Minnan (southern Fujian) tradition.
Visitors gathered around tea tables, savoring dishes while watching their preparation up close. Vendors shared stories behind the recipes, and live performances of glove puppetry and Nanyin music added cultural texture to the flavorful journey.
"Spices are not just condiments — they're cultural connectors," says tourism scholar Peng Jun.
"They reflect the warmth and openness of Xiamen as a migrant city and serve as a unique signature of Chinese cuisine in the world.
"Since the Tang Dynasty (618-907), people have come to Xiamen at different times, but finding a taste of home here has never depended on when they arrived.
"The city's rich diversity of spices speaks to its endless possibilities — everyone who comes to Xiamen finds their own unique flavor of the city."
To bring the story full circle, several products featured in the documentary are now available to the public. Cheuk Yuet . Queen, a Southeast Asian-style restaurant in Xiamen has launched the turtle-shaped peanut cake seen in the documentary, and new condiments, including sambal chili sauces made from five regional Chinese chilies and five varieties of tropical-style curry sauces, are now sold online.
"We've always treated Once Upon a Bite as a growing IP," says producer Zhu Lexian. "Expanding beyond the screen is our way of turning stories into experiences — and this is just the beginning."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Say 'kimchi': How photobooths have filled Korean streets
With tiny photos, Koreans turn moments into memories "Look at the camera and pose within 10 seconds after you hear the sound beep." After the countdown cue begins, put on your best smile, strike a pose, switch it up and let your best angle shine. And get ready for the next shot. After the minute-long shoot, flip through the snap photos, pick your favorites and print them out to take home. This is a scene at a self-service photo booth where anyone can snap fun shots and instantly print out bookmark-sized keepsakes that capture the moment. The photos are taken using automated cameras, lighting and backdrops. These unmanned photo "studios" are open 24 hours, meaning you can pop in whenever it strikes your fancy. Instructions are available in English, Japanese and Chinese as well. Walk through Seongsu-dong or Hongdae and you will be struck by how many of these unmanned photo studios there are, usually crowded with people casually stepping inside to snap memories as if it were a daily routine. Among the many studio booths, global selfie brand Life Four Cuts leads the pack. The name is a reference to its "four-cut" photo service — similar to traditional passport photos, with four snapshots framed in a vertical strip, with two printed copies costing 4,000 won ($2.91), 8,000 won for four copies and 12,000 won for six prints. Ha Yoo-ra, 20, a university student in Seoul, is among those who stepped into a four-cut photo booth with two friends for a fun memory. "(The three of us) have been friends since elementary school, but somehow never took a nice photo together, believe it or not, until now. So we decided to have a little makeover and dress nicely to mark our years of friendship. One day, I hope we will reminisce about the memories of the day we took the photo, what we ate and how we looked," Ha told The Korea Herald. "Also, the self-photo booths edit the pictures by making our skin look better and brighter, which is cost-friendly for college students," Ha added. To stand out in the fast-growing photo booth market, many brands are teaming up with K-pop stars, actors, popular cartoon characters and even sports figures. These time-limited designs add to the appeal by creating a one-of-a-kind experience. For example, Photoism opened an artist frame on May 26 that allows users to take photos with a frame featuring singer-songwriter IU to mark the release of her new EP "A Flower Bookmark, Pt. 3." The special edition frame will only be available until June 30. Yoshi from the K-pop group Treasure is another frame option available at Photoism. Released to mark his May 15 birthday, the frame will be available through June 15. Park Jun-seo, a college graduate who is an avid fan of boy band Enhypen, visited Photoism in November last year to to be in the same frame as her favorite idol. "Honestly, I think it is embarrassing to enter a self-studio photo booth to take a picture of yourself, but I wanted to be in the same picture with my idol. It wasn't about how pretty I looked in the picture but about the fact that I printed a photo of me standing next to my favorite singer, even if it was just a photo frame," Park explained. For sports fans, exclusive photo frames featuring baseball players from all 10 KBO teams are available through a partnership with the Korea Baseball Organization during the baseball season. During the baseball sesason fans can capture fun and personalized memories, posing "next" to their favorite player. The special edition frames are available through October. The photo-booth craze has also spread overseas. Korea's Life Four Cuts and Photomatic are now available in Singapore and London while local companies have jumped in on the market in Indonesia with homegrown brands like Photograms and Palette ID making big waves. "These pictures come with great quality at a budget-friendly price, which is why the MZ generation are preferring self-photo studios," a senior official overseeing marketing at Life Four Cuts told The Korea Herald. A total of 120 million visits have been made to Life Four Cuts since its launch in 2017 and the company runs around 410 stores in Korea, according to the company. Another reason driving the trend is that the pictures come out in formats that are easy to share on social media, according to the official. Also, limited-edition photo frames could trigger FOMO among people and lead to more repeat visits for photos with different celebrities in the frame. "The trend also aligns with the desire to capture and document everyday moments. With stylish frames and creative setups, these photo booths let anyone step in, take photos and express themselves comfortably and without feeling self-conscious," the official said.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Korea Herald
Blokees Initial Release Minions Mokoo Series: Minions-N-Disguise, Becomes a Banana Day Hotspot
SHANGHAI, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 1, 2025, the 2025 Minions Banana Day was officially launched in Shanghai and Beijing, marking the commencement of a five-month tour across six cities in China. The Chinese building block character toy brand Blokees made a special appearance at the event. At the flagship station in Shanghai, Blokees globally unveiled and simultaneously made available to purchase its latest Minions Mokoo Series: Minions-N-Disguise. This series showcases six iconic Minions characters: King Bob, Soldier Stuart, Golf Tim, Knight Dave, Maid Phil, and Caveman Kevin. Their distinctive physical traits and classic appearances are meticulously replicated. Each figure features detachable outfits, interchangeable accessories, and 11 articulated joints, enabling engaging and realistic interaction. In addition, a hidden cute skeleton design serves as a surprising Easter egg, offering an unexpected delight to dedicated Minions fans. Blokees has been actively promoting user innovation, further cultivating the innovative culture of the BFC (Blokees Figures Creator) brand, and encouraging users to become creators within the BFC ecosystem. In the Minions Banana Day exhibition area, Blokees has specifically established a dedicated display zone for BFC creations. The Blokees booth attracted considerable attention and became a prominent destination for Minions enthusiasts. Attendees participated in photo sessions and group portraits while experiencing the innovative process of construction and transformation. The atmosphere was lively, characterized by laughter and enthusiasm. A dedicated Minions fan commented with excitement, "These Minions building blocks exhibit highly detailed and realistic designs, offering versatility through customizable outfits. The integration of a skeletal framework represents an ingenious and surprising feature, enhancing the product's appeal significantly." The Minions Banana Day will continue until October 26, making stops in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Changsha, and Shenyang. Throughout the tour, Blokees will introduce additional Minions-themed releases and interactive activities. With a portfolio encompassing over 500 patents, Blokees remains at the forefront of innovation. Through its "All Ages, All Price Points, Global Reach" strategy, Blokees is progressively propelling Chinese brick-based character toys onto the global stage.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Korea Herald
YeePay Showcases One-Stop Global Travel Payment Network at 2025 ITB China
SHANGHAI, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ITB China, Asia Pacific's most influential travel industry trade show, officially kicked off on May 27 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center. YeePay, a leading enterprise payment service provider in China, made a strong appearance at this year's show with its "One-Stop Global Travel Payment Network." Leveraging cutting-edge financial technology, YeePay aims to power growth across the global travel market. YeePay showcased its full suite of global travel payment solutions through an immersive, tech-driven booth experience. At the heart of the booth, a dynamic LED display supported by on-site demonstrations highlighted YeePay's ability to solve key pain points for international travel partners entering the Chinese market—such as complex multi-currency settlements and high account management costs. The experience reflected YeePay's core brand values in being a Professional, Innovative, and Trusted company. Tang Bin, Founder and CEO of YeePay, shared his insights on the evolving relationship between payments and travel: "I believe payments—enhanced by AI—will make travel transactions more convenient, personalized, and intelligent. Payments also connect the foundational layers of commerce, helping people unlock greater spending power abroad. With data accumulation, we can deliver more personalized services through smart data mining. " Bin added: "At its core, travel is about connecting people with the world, and payments serve as the bridge that connects people with commerce. As global travel becomes more accessible through better transportation and digital infrastructure, we must address new transactional challenges—like the security of payments, local currency processing. There's a huge opportunity to innovate and improve the overall travel experience through payment solutions." YeePay's One-Stop Global Travel Payment Network helps travel companies achieve cost-effective, fast, and optimized international payments. With an end-to-end transaction network and full-spectrum capabilities in global collections, payouts, and FX services, YeePay provides a single-account solution for managing complex global financial flows within the travel industry. About YeePay Founded in 2003, YeePay is a leading enterprise payment service provider in China, offering secure, innovative, and intelligent transaction solutions across industries such as airlines & travel, retail, fintech, and cross-border commerce. As a key player in global B2B payments, YeePay operates an extensive financial network covering 130+ countries and regions and supporting 60+ currencies. YeePay holds full payment licenses in China and is approved by multiple international regulatory bodies.
