Nestled in the Chinese mainland's Guangdong Province, Shunde continues to captivate global travelers as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2026. This culinary heartland, celebrated as the birthplace of Cantonese cuisine, offers visitors like Absalom from Namibia an immersive exploration of wok-fired delicacies and time-honored cooking traditions.
By day, Shunde's markets brim with fresh river fish and fragrant herbs – essential ingredients for signature dishes like steamed milk custard and shuangpi naai (double-skinned milk). As dusk settles, the city transforms into a symphony of sizzling woks, where master chefs demonstrate wok hei, the prized 'breath of the wok' technique.
"Every bite tells centuries of stories," Absalom remarked while sampling pai qiu (fried milk dumplings) at a night market. "The warmth here isn't just in the food – it's in the people sharing their culinary heritage."
With 2026 marking a decade since Shunde's UNESCO designation, local authorities report a 35% year-on-year increase in culinary tourism. The city's food culture continues influencing global gastronomy trends while preserving traditional methods like claypot braising and delicate dim sum craftsmanship.
