Quanzhou: Creativity as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development
Every city has its own identity, shaped by its unique history, priorities, and ambitions. In Quanzhou, creativity is at the heart of its development strategy, serving as a driver for both innovation and heritage preservation. As one of China's most historically rich port cities, Quanzhou is leveraging its cultural assets and dynamic gastronomy sector to address modern urban challenges while fostering sustainable growth.
With rising economic prosperity, greater cultural awareness, and a growing demand for high-quality living, Quanzhou stands at a pivotal moment. The city must balance rapid modernization with the preservation of its rich culinary and craft traditions. Key priorities include promoting healthy lifestyles, meeting evolving tourism demands, safeguarding traditional craftsmanship, and generating employment opportunities in the creative economy.
Gastronomy as a Creative Solution
Gastronomy is playing a transformative role in addressing these challenges, offering innovative approaches to sustainable urban development:
Ensuring a Sustainable Food Supply: By establishing an international hub for ingredient trade, advancing local green food industries, and optimizing marine resources, Quanzhou is enhancing food security and environmental sustainability.
Promoting Healthy Diets: Integrating modern nutrition with traditional culinary wisdom, the city is launching public health initiatives to encourage informed and balanced eating habits.
Innovating Cultural Expressions: Through digital initiatives like "Gastronomy Plus," Quanzhou is merging cuisine with design, music, literature, and crafts, creating immersive cultural experiences that bridge tradition and contemporary creativity.
Quanzhou's vision aligns with UNESCO's commitment to cultural diversity and sustainability. By embracing creativity as a force for positive change, the city is shaping a future where heritage and innovation coexist harmoniously, reinforcing its role as a global hub for gastronomic excellence.
Quanzhou's commitment to sustainable urban development aligns closely with UNESCO's vision. Over the past two decades, the city has actively engaged in UNESCO's World Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage nominations, strengthening its understanding of cultural preservation and sustainability. With its deep-rooted history, dynamic port trade, abundant marine resources, and thriving gastronomy industry, Quanzhou is applying to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) as a "Creative City of Gastronomy."
By achieving this designation, Quanzhou will enhance collaboration with fellow UCCN member cities to drive urban sustainability. Over the next four years, the city will prioritize green industry upgrades, optimize its ecological product supply chain, and boost its creative gastronomy sector. The industry is projected to grow by 10% annually, generating over 100,000 new jobs. Furthermore, Quanzhou aims to integrate gastronomy with crafts, folk art, design, film, literature, media arts, and music, fostering a rich and diverse creative ecosystem at the city level.
Long-term, UNESCO's expertise in cultural creativity will help Quanzhou refine its strategic development plans, strengthening its role as a global gastronomic hub. The designation will also enhance Quanzhou's appeal as a premier cultural and culinary tourism destination, attracting visitors and investment while ensuring the sustainable preservation of its heritage.
Major Programmes or Projects Promoting Cultural Participation in the Creative Field
Quanzhou has initiated key programmes to broaden cultural participation and support social inclusivity in the creative sector. The following three major initiatives illustrate its commitment:
"Supporting Dreams Together" Employment and Entrepreneurship Initiative: Since 2021, Quanzhou has invested over USD 1.79 million in this programme, providing culinary skills training to 2,200 individuals with disabilities. Through the "Angel Restaurants" project, the initiative fosters self-employment opportunities and promotes workplace inclusivity.
"Caring for the Elders" Project: This initiative delivers daily meals and entertainment services to over 20,000 senior citizens, ensuring their active engagement in community life and enhancing their well-being.
"Action of Women for Rural Revitalization" Programme: Quanzhou has established 50 model training bases, providing free culinary and business skills education to 53,000 women. This initiative has created over 30,000 job opportunities, promoting gender equality and rural economic empowerment.
Key Initiatives Advancing the UCCN's Objectives at the City Level
To enhance the role of culture and creativity in sustainable development, Quanzhou has developed the following initiatives:
"Green and Healthy Gastronomy Week" Project: Beginning in 2025, Quanzhou will celebrate UN Sustainable Gastronomy Day annually on June 18. The initiative will include sustainable cooking competitions, health-focused culinary lectures, eco-friendly food delivery campaigns, and interactive cultural performances. These activities aim to promote responsible consumption (SDG12), healthy lifestyles (SDG3), and climate action awareness (SDG13).
"Dining with Arts" Programme: This initiative leverages Quanzhou's rich culinary traditions by integrating crafts, folk art, and ceramic design into themed banquets. Collaborating with chefs, designers, and cultural heritage practitioners, this programme fosters cultural innovation while enhancing urban cultural vibrancy. Gastronomy Culture Promotion Ambassadors will support outreach through digital media and in-person events, driving synergies between culture and economic development (SDG11).
"Blue Granary" Marine Resource Development Project: Focused on sustainable marine food resources, this initiative includes responsible fishing practices, marine food festivals, educational programmes, and international collaborations. By working with UNESCO and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Quanzhou seeks to share best practices in marine sustainability and ecosystem protection (SDG14, SDG8, SDG11).
International Initiatives Strengthening the UCCN's Global Impact
Quanzhou is dedicated to international cooperation through the following projects:
"Intangible Cultural Heritage Gastronomy Database" Programme: This initiative will create a digital database preserving gastronomic intangible heritage, accessible to all UCCN cities. It will extend Quanzhou's cultural expertise to underrepresented regions, such as Africa and the Arab States, supporting digital innovation in food heritage preservation. An annual "Global Gastronomic Intangible Cultural Heritage Dialogue Conference" will further foster cross-cultural exchanges (SDG17).
"Quanzhou International Food Festival" Project: Launching in November 2024, this annual event invites UCCN member cities to showcase their culinary heritage. Along Quanzhou's historic streets, food stalls, live chef demonstrations, and cultural performances will celebrate the fusion of cuisine, music, and crafts, enhancing cultural tourism and global gastronomic networking (SDG17).
"Gastronomy Education for SDGs Initiative": Quanzhou will establish the "GastroWorld" digital education platform, offering open-access online courses on traditional culinary skills, regional ingredients, and dietary customs. This initiative will facilitate knowledge exchange among UCCN member cities, fostering innovation in sustainable gastronomy education.
Through these initiatives, Quanzhou is poised to become a global leader in sustainable gastronomy, fostering creativity, cultural exchange, and urban resilience in alignment with the UCCN's objectives.
-
2025-08-23
Philanthropist Funds Community Canteen, Seniors Enjoy Free Lunches
At noon on August 21, more than 50 elderly residents gathered at the newly opened Yuhua Community Canteen on Nanshan South Road in Quangang District, Quanzhou, where they enjoyed hot, freshly prepared vegetarian lunches at no cost.
-
2025-07-16
Mao Mountain Community in Nan'an Explores a Sustainable Model for Its Senior-Friendly Canteen
Recently, the enticing aroma of freshly prepared dishes filled the air at the Mao Mountain Community canteen in Liucheng, Nan'an. Elderly residents queued up for lunch, while young families sat together around shared tables, chatting and enjoying their meals. Nearby, children played freely in a designated kids' corner, transforming the canteen into a warm and welcoming community living room.
-
2025-05-23
A Timeless Culinary Love Letter: Exploring China's Edible Flower Traditions
As the early summer heat intensifies, traditional Chinese medicine advocates cooling, nourishing foods to counteract seasonal discomforts like restlessness, insomnia, and heatstroke. Central to this practice is the 2,000-year-old tradition of edible flowers—a harmonious fusion of gastronomy, aesthetics, and wellness—that transforms blossoms into culinary masterpieces celebrating humanity's bond with nature.
-
2025-05-23
"Scholar's Feast" in Quanzhou: The Cultural Heritage Behind Local Cuisine
Quanzhou's "Scholar's Feast" offers a unique journey through the region's rich culinary heritage, epitomized by dishes like the "Kui Xing Banquet" of Yongchun and the "Zhuangyuan Family Banquet" in Jinjiang's Chidian. These feasts incorporate symbolic blessings—such as "Kui Xing Lighting the Stars" and "Triple Success"—into their recipes, celebrating academic excellence as students prepare for college and high school entrance exams.
-
2025-04-18
A Taste of the Oceanic Epic: Decoding Quanzhou's Maritime Flavour DNA
From the rustic charm of oyster omelettes to the aromatic depth of curry beef, and from the grand banquets of the Song-Yuan Maritime Silk Road to the intricate "Floral Feast" rooted in women's traditions, Quanzhou's cuisine is a living archive of oceanic civilisation. It reflects the resilience of coastal communities and the cultural confluence shaped by a thousand years of maritime exchange.