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Z WEEKLY丨Culinary bonds across the Strait

CHINADAILY · 公众号 · 时评 · 2025-01-08 12:55

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Qu Xianping moved from Taiwan to Shanghai in 2004 due to his father's job.

At the time, Taiwan dramas were incredibly popular among young people on the Chinese mainland. As the only Taiwan student at his school, Qu's distinct accent quickly caught the attention of his classmates, sparking friendly curiosity. Pop culture became the first bridge that helped him connect with his new environment.

Now 34 and a food content creator, Qu has uncovered deeper connections between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait through his culinary explorations.

▲ Qu Xianping (right) poses with his parents in front of Yanbian University in Jilin. Photo provided to China Daily

Qu's videos initially focused on his personal food adventures, with his parents occasionally making appearances. However, in 2023, during the Spring Festival, Qu and his parents returned to Taiwan, where they filmed a video of them shopping for groceries and preparing the reunion dinner together. The warm, humorous interactions between the three quickly won over viewers.

This family-centered approach has since become a signature feature of Qu's channel, evident in every video as they explore cuisines across the Chinese mainland.

The combination of delicious food, welcoming locals, and the close-knit family dynamic creates a lively, joyful atmosphere that resonates with many in the audience.

"While traveling across the country, I realized that many dishes in Taiwan are surprisingly similar to those on the mainland," Qu said.

He explained that this is likely because people from various regions of the Chinese mainland who moved to Taiwan brought their hometown flavors with them. These flavors blended with the local Minnan cuisine, which has its roots in East China's Fujian province, creating unique culinary traditions.

Qu also discovered that in Taiwan, a family's ancestral background significantly shapes its food traditions.

For example, while people in northern China typically eat dumplings on the winter solstice and those in the south prefer tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), Taiwan, a southern province of China, doesn't follow this pattern.

Instead, food preferences in Taiwan are influenced more by individual family customs than by regional trends.

"It also depends on who's doing the cooking," Qu joked. In his family, for example, his Taiwan grandmother is the main cook, so they enjoy tangyuan for the winter solstice. Meanwhile, their neighbors, with northern Chinese ancestry, celebrate the day with dumplings.

"Food is not just a daily necessity but also a key part of Chinese heritage," Qu said.

▲ Qu (right) and his father enjoy Lanzhou beef noodles in Lanzhou, Gansu. Photo provided to China Daily

For him, culinary exploration goes far beyond trying new dishes or learning about food traditions.

In 2024, one of his most unforgettable experiences took place in Lanzhou, Gansu province. Before this trip, Qu had never visited Northwest China. While he enjoyed the region's famous lamb and beef noodles, the true highlight came when his father reconnected with an old friend after more than a decade.

"My dad's friend reached out after seeing our videos online. Even though we had already moved on to Qinghai province, we made a trip back to Lanzhou to meet him," Qu said. "And, of course, we enjoyed the local dishes again — but sharing them with a long-lost friend made the experience truly special."

▲ Qu (right) and his father savor stewed goose in an iron pot in Changchun, Jilin. Photo provided to China Daily

Connections through food

Other than rekindling old friendships, food has also sparked unexpected bonds with strangers.

Some of the most touching moments in Qu's videos happen when restaurant owners or customers recognize his Taiwan accent and greet him warmly.

In one video filmed at a hot pot restaurant in Jilin province, the owner told Qu, "When Taiwan returns to China, I'll definitely open a branch there." Qu smiled and replied, "I'm sure it will be a hit."

"People on the Chinese mainland are incredibly welcoming toward those from Taiwan. I want to capture these genuine moments and share them through my videos," Qu said.

In early 2023, Qu experienced an unexpected connection when a viewer recommended her family's barbecue restaurant in Zibo, Shandong province. Despite being in business for over 20 years, the restaurant remained relatively unknown.

Curious about the suggestion, Qu visited the restaurant unannounced, surprising the viewer with his arrival. "It felt like reconnecting with an old friend," Qu recalled.

Shortly after, Zibo became a popular destination for young travelers, and Qu's video featuring the restaurant went viral, significantly boosting the family business. Once a quiet eatery, the restaurant now sees long lines of customers, greatly improving the livelihood of its owners.

Later, when the viewer got married, she invited Qu and his parents to the wedding and even asked him to officiate the ceremony.

"It's incredible how a simple video can lead to such meaningful connections. This has been one of the most rewarding moments of my journey as a content creator," he said.

Qu's videos also provided meaningful encouragement to ordinary viewers.

One viewer, undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia and struggling to eat, reached out to Qu. She shared that watching his videos about his family's heartfelt food journey across the Chinese mainland brought her joy, reignited her appetite, and gave her hope. Today, she is gradually recovering.

"The messages I receive are powerful, and they motivate me to keep creating high-quality videos," Qu said.

With over 1.2 million followers now, Qu and his parents have traveled throughout China, except for the Xizang autonomous region, Hong Kong, and Macao.

"In the new year, I hope to explore even more of the country, discovering unique and authentic foods to share with my audience," Qu said.

Reporter: Meng Wenjie