On October 31^st, the official website of UNESCO announced the latest additions to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), and Chaozhou has been selected as the "Creative City of Gastronomy." Following in the footsteps of cities like Chengdu in Sichuan, Shunde in Guangdong, Macao, Yangzhou in Jiangsu, and Huai'an in Jiangsu, Chaozhou becomes the sixth city in China and the second in Guangdong to earn the prestigious title of "Creative City of Gastronomy."

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network is a platform that brings together cities from around the world whose development is rooted in creativity across various fields, including crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music. In 2020, Chaozhou initiated the application to become the "Creative City of Gastronomy," and after over three years of relentless efforts, Chaozhou has successfully joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Currently, the historic and culturally rich city of Chaozhou holds several culinary accolades, including being known as the "Chinese Foodie City Recommended by Netizens Worldwide," "Chinese Food Capital," "Hometown of Chaozhou Cuisine," and "Chaozhou Cuisine Landmark Culinary City." Chaozhou cuisine has a long and illustrious history, dating back to the Han and Tang dynasties, evolving during the Song dynasty, flourishing during the Ming dynasty, and reaching its peak during the Qing dynasty. In modern times, it has gained international acclaim. Additionally, the culinary techniques of Chaozhou cuisine are recognized as a national-level intangible cultural heritage, known for its expertise in cooking seafood, attention to seasonings, precision in preparation, and a subtle yet elegant flavor profile. Chaozhou's culinary offerings are diverse and have their own unique characteristics, with over 500 Chaozhou dishes, more than 300 types of Chaozhou snacks, and nearly 100 varieties of dipping sauces and condiments, all characterized by their natural, healthy, exquisite, and shareable qualities.

Being chosen as the "Creative City of Gastronomy" has bestowed Chaozhou with shining international recognition. This achievement not only helps promote the rich culinary culture of Chaozhou but also enhances international exchanges involving Chaozhou's cuisine. In particular, it encourages interaction and collaboration with other member cities of the global Creative Cities Network, allowing more people to experience the profound cultural heritage and unique charm of the millennia-old city of Chaozhou.

潮州成功入选“世界美食之都”

10月31日，联合国教科文组织官网公布新一批加入联合国教科文组织创意城市网络的城市，潮州成功入选“世界美食之都”。继四川成都、广东顺德、澳门、江苏扬州、淮安之后，潮州成为全国第六个、广东第二个获得“世界美食之都”称号的城市。

据悉，联合国教科文组织创意城市网络是汇聚全球以创意作为发展基础的城市的平台，创意领域包括手工艺和民间艺术、设计、电影、美食、文学、媒体艺术和音乐等。2020年，潮州启动申创“世界美食之都”，经过3年多的不懈努力，潮州成功加入联合国教科文组织创意城市网络。

当前，国家历史文化名城潮州已拥有“全球网民推荐的最中国美食城市”“中国食品名城”“中国潮州菜之乡”“潮州菜地标美食城市”等美食城市名片，潮州菜始于汉唐、形成于宋、兴于明、盛于清，近现代更是驰名海内外。此外，潮州菜烹饪技艺还是国家级非遗项目，其以烹饪海鲜、佐料讲究、食不厌精、清淡素雅见长。潮州美食品种繁多、自成体系，有500多道潮州菜、300多种潮州小吃、近100种酱碟调料，具有天然、健康、精致、共享的特点。

入选世界美食之都，为潮州赢得了一张耀眼的国际名片，既有利于进一步弘扬潮州悠久的美食文化，也有利于推进潮州美食的国际交流，特别是与其他全球创意城市网络成员城市的交流互动，让越来越多的人感受到千年古城潮州浓郁的文化底蕴和独特魅力。

文、图 | 记者 蚁璐雅 通讯员 潮宣
译 | 刘佳慧
责编 | 王楠

校对 | 马曼婷