A Datong dish competes at the 2025 Africa Championship of World Chinese Cuisine. [Photo provided to goshanxi.com.cn]

Datong's culinary excellence has once again captured the international spotlight, as the city's delegation achieved remarkable success at the 2025 Africa Championship of World Chinese Cuisine.

The team brought home both a Special Gold Award and a Gold Award, standing out among more than 40 domestic and international competitors and showcasing the compelling strength and allure of Datong cuisine to a global audience.

Promoting culinary cultural exchange is a key component of Datong's "International City of Gastronomy" three-year action plan. The Roast Duck team introduced authentic Datong cuisine to the international stage for the first time, establishing a new benchmark for dialogue between Datong flavors and African culinary traditions.

The team captivated judges with dishes that highlighted local Datong ingredients such as Shanxi aged vinegar, sea buckthorn, and millet. Its creations exemplified the Shanxi culinary philosophy of meticulous selection, exquisite knife skills, and rich flavors, with each dish serving as a testament to Datong's unique culinary identity.

The competition, held on Oct 30 at the Kenya Utalii College, marked a historic moment as the first world-class Chinese culinary event to take place on the African continent.

The event, a centerpiece of the 2025 China-Kenya Culture and Tourism Season, was an innovative culinary exchange under the Belt and Road Initiative, enhancing mutual understanding and cultural connections between China and Africa.

A Datong fish dish shines at the 2025 Africa Championship of World Chinese Cuisine. [Photo provided to goshanxi.com.cn]