The visiting vloggers buy ingredients for their dishes. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

A group of international influencers and expats gathered on July 26 at the Wen'er Market in Hangzhou — capital of East China's Zhejiang province — to take part in the Picturesque Zhejiang cultural experience event.

At the market, participants were given shopping tasks for local ingredients like tofu skins, bamboo shoots and fresh fish. The market visit was followed by a Zhejiang cooking workshop led by Ma Kunshan, a Michelin-recognized chef.

Attendees learned to prepare two signature dishes — Hangzhou rolled chicken and chrysanthemum fish — experiencing first-hand the artistry of Chinese knife skills and traditional flavors.

Notably, social media creators like French vlogger David Nanith and German TikTok star Hevenna shared the experience with their global audiences in real time. Hevenna, who has over a million followers, impressed locals with her cooking skills despite struggling with a large Chinese cleaver.

In the afternoon, participants explored tea culture at the Qingteng Tea Space, a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage site. Activities included traditional tea whisking, painting lotus fans and tea art ceremony performances. Influencers painted playful messages like "I love China" and anime characters in the frothy tea, comparing it to latte art.

The event also served as a platform for cultural exchanges. Participants, including students from Zhejiang University, discussed their experiences of living in China and recommended tools like the Zhejiang Travel tourism app — powered by AI — to make travel in Zhejiang more accessible for foreign visitors.

The Picturesque Zhejiang experience is continuing with visits to Xitang Ancient Town, where guests will explore local crafts, enjoy traditional opera and sample regional specialties. More of such events are planned, in order to help deepen global awareness of Zhejiang's diverse cultural landscape.

French vlogger David Nanith livestreams at the Wen'er Market. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]