In July 2024, Quanzhou officially launched its bid to join the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy network. In order to better leverage the intellectual resources of universities to support the high-quality development of the local economy and society, the Quanzhou Food Economy Research Base at Huaqiao University has been actively assisting Quanzhou in its application for UNESCO City of Gastronomy status. Recently, a five-member team from the Research Base, along with the Hotel Management Faculty Party Branch from the College of Tourism, traveled to Shunde, Shenzhen, and other cities to study the experiences of cities that have successfully established themselves as UNESCO Cities of Gastronomy.

　　The research team visited key locations, including the Shunde Food Museum, the Garden Hotel Museum in Guangzhou, WenTu Information Technology Co., Ltd. in Guangzhou, and Yushan Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. in Shenzhen. They engaged in in-depth discussions with Chen Jian, Professor and Dean of the Culinary Arts College at Shunde Vocational and Technical College, who is leading Shunde's application for UNESCO City of Gastronomy status. The team focused on understanding Shunde's application process, development experiences, ongoing projects, and future plans. Additionally, they explored topics such as the development of food and beverage culture museums, the use of smart technologies to empower the food industry, and the integration of tourism-related courses into higher education.

　　The research trip covered a wide range of topics, including the preservation and innovation of food culture, enhancing city branding, international exchange and cooperation, and strategies for industrial development. The insights gained from this visit will provide valuable reference points for Quanzhou in its bid for UNESCO City of Gastronomy status. Moving forward, the College of Tourism will continue to leverage the Quanzhou Food Economy Research Base, the National-level Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center for Tourism, and the Hotel Management Faculty Party Branch as teaching and research platforms. These efforts will strengthen collaboration between the university and local government, integrate tourism-related academic resources, and promote interdisciplinary integration to better support the high-quality development of the local economy and assist Quanzhou in its bid to become a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.