In the heart of southwest China's Zunyi, a city celebrated for its pepper-driven cuisine, a newly unveiled culinary map is igniting global interest. Dubbed the "City of Peppers," Zunyi's latest initiative showcases over 50 regional spicy dishes from across the country, offering a vibrant snapshot of China's diverse gastronomic traditions.
The interactive exhibit, discovered during a cultural tour, features iconic dishes like Sichuan's mouth-numbing hotpot, Hunan's dry-pot frog, and Yunnan's herb-infused chili sauces. Each entry highlights local ingredients and preparation methods, emphasizing how regional climates and histories shape China's spice preferences. For business professionals, the map also subtly underscores Zunyi's role in Asia's agricultural economy, producing 30% of the Chinese mainland's high-quality dried peppers.
Academics note the project's value in preserving intangible cultural heritage, while diaspora communities praise its nostalgic connections to hometown flavors. Travelers, meanwhile, are flocking to Zunyi's pepper farms and tasting workshops, drawn by UNESCO's recent recognition of Chinese spicy cuisine as a "cultural treasure."
