Food is China's intangible cultural heritage

It is widely believed that zongzi, or rice dumpling, is the traditional symbol that has remained attached with the Dragon Boat Festival. Festivals and food are made for each other in China. Therefore, Chinese cultural authorities should apply for a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage title for Chinese food to better convey the message of traditional Chinese culture.

French food was recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. The recognition or listing has nothing to do with a country's cuisine - nothing to do with the variety of dishes and cooking techniques - instead it associated with the cultural tradition of eating and drinking. In the case of France, the title was bestowed on the flamboyance of its gastronomy (the dressing of the table, the pairing of certain wines with certain dishes, the placement of glasses and cutlery, the artistry and presentation of a multi-course meal). In the communiqu��, UNESCO lauded the traditional French meal as a "social custom aimed at celebrating the most important moments in the lives of individuals and groups".

China too has rich and elaborate food customs, arguably richer than most other countries, even France perhaps. In China, an array of dishes is placed on round tables with elevated, revolving surfaces that cover the core of the table (the purpose of the revolving table is to allow every diner access to all the dishes as the elevated part is nudged along in circles).