The aroma of slow-roasted lamb fills the air and mingles with the faint scent of osmanthus wine. A soft melody resounds through the large hall as silken dancers move gracefully in the glow of hanging lanterns. A waiter in an embroidered robe bows slightly before placing a golden platter in front of you, on which steamed prawns are served with mature Shaoxing wine - a delicacy once reserved for emperors. For a fleeting moment, the hum of the modern world stops and you are no longer a visitor, but a noble guest at a sumptuous banquet from centuries past.
An experience for all the senses - when food becomes a journey through time
This is the immersive dining experience much favoured in China, a seamless blend of history, gastronomy and storytelling where a meal becomes a portal to another era. From the opulent feasts of the Tang Dynasty to the bustling street markets of the Song Dynasty, these experiences offer more than just flavours. They awaken forgotten traditions and take all the senses on a journey through time.
Time travel through China's cuisine - immersive dining experiences
On the streets of Tianjin, the lure of jianbing guozi (a traditional Chinese pancake sandwich) is equally irresistible. Imagine a thin pancake made from mung beans and grains, fried to a crisp on a hot griddle, with an evenly distributed layer of egg wrapped around a piece of crispy youtiao (fried dough stick) or small crispy fried dumplings. The pancake is complemented by fermented bean curd, various sauces and spices, which come together to create a rolled-up treat with different layers of texture and flavour - an unforgettable touch of local warmth.
The Great Tang Banquet in Xi'an: The elegance of the imperial court
Step into the Great Tang Banquet in Xi'an and the transformation begins even before the first dish is served. Flowing robes drape over your shoulders as you enter a candlelit palace hall, its gilded screens adorned with mythical creatures. The feast unfolds slowly, reflecting the rituals of the imperial court: succulent suckling pig, tender lotus roots in honey glaze, delicate pastries filled with rose-scented bean paste. Between courses, a mesmerising dance performance brings the elegance of the Tang dynasty to life as shimmering silk sleeves dance like waves in the glow of the lanterns. Every sip of the aged plum wine, every bite of the golden crispy duck is a taste of a world long gone, yet incredibly vibrant.
The night market of the Song dynasty: everyday life, fragrance and storytelling
For those looking for something more grounded in everyday life, the Song Dynasty Night Market offers a different kind of immersion. The air is filled with the aroma of sizzling kebabs and freshly steamed buns. Lantern-lit stalls line the cobbled streets, each vendor proclaiming the evening's specialities, beggar's chicken wrapped in lotus leaves, bowls of hand-pulled noodles glistening in fragrant spring onion oil. A storyteller gathers a small crowd around him, his voice rising and falling as he tells old folk tales. Nearby, a tea master prepares a delicate brew, the vapour of which wafts into the night air. In contrast to the splendour of imperial festivals, the charm here lies in the raw energy, the laughter, the warmth and the effortless way in which history weaves itself into everyday life.
Silk Road Banquets: Culinary encounter between East and West
However, the culinary experience in China is not just about recreating ancient scenes, but also about celebrating culinary heritage. At Silk Road Banquets, diners embark on a journey across thousands of kilometres, following the legendary trade route that once connected East and West. Each course reveals a new story, a platter of golden-crusted samsa from Central Asia, a fragrant Persian-inspired lamb stew, tender hand-pulled noodles reminiscent of those once encountered by Marco Polo.
Under a ceiling painted like a desert sky, surrounded by murals of camel caravans and spice traders, guests taste the fusion of cultures that have shaped a civilisation. In a country where food has always been more than just sustenance, these experiences offer something beyond the flavours themselves. They are a way to travel back in time through flavour and understand a culture not only through its history books, but also through its meals, its rituals and its unspoken traditions.
Food as cultural memory - tasting history instead of reading it
You can almost hear it, the distant echo of rustling silk, the soft murmur of a storyteller telling tales of emperors and travellers, the clink of porcelain cups filled with fragrant tea. Perhaps somewhere in Switzerland, behind an inconspicuous wooden gate, a different kind of feast is quietly taking shape. The glow of lanterns flickers in the night, a table is set with crockery that bears the weight of centuries and aromatic broths bubble in copper pots. Here, history is not read but tasted, not remembered but experienced anew. And for those who step through the doors, a journey through China's culinary past begins.
