Trip.com Group has launched Taste of China, a dining show in Shanghai that combines regional cuisine, digital projections and live performance. The 90-minute production, staged at the Bund City Hall Plaza, features a seven-course menu representing different parts of the country.
The show is led by an animated panda chef, Cheng BaoBao, and reflects the company’s strategy to expand in culinary tourism, a sector showing rising demand among both international and domestic travellers.
The event is set in a panoramic dining theatre where food is presented alongside storytelling. Each of the seven courses is paired with tea and accompanied by performances or digital scenery. Diners are introduced to dishes such as Peking Duck with jasmine tea from the north, Sour Soup Fish with Pu’er tea from the south, and a herbal hot pot from central China. In the western region chapter, Mapo Tofu is served with wagyu beef and lobster.
The programme also incorporates cultural themes including wisdom, responsibility, benevolence, integrity, heritage, connection and innovation. These are conveyed through short stories such as fishermen in Guilin observing a seasonal ban to allow stocks to recover or a Sichuan chef using three-year-aged bean paste for Mapo Tofu. Each course is supported by live performance. Dancers in traditional hanfu costumes appear in digital garden scenes from Suzhou, a martial artist demonstrates Shaolin techniques, and an interactive tabletop game allows guests to join a Guilin fishing story. The show concludes with a Sichuan opera face-changing act.
Guests are invited to arrive early to try on traditional Chinese costumes with styling services offering hanfu, cheongsam and regional attire. A 3D screen and sets outside the venue are available for photography.
Trip.com Group data shows that culinary travel bookings rose 30 per cent year-on-year in 1H2025. Internationally, Paris, London, New York, Madrid and Milan were leading destinations, while in China, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Changsha recorded strong demand. Shanghai and Beijing stand out with particularly high restaurant bookings.
The production forms part of the group’s wider culinary tourism strategy. Each course doubles as a destination guide, with QR codes on menus linking to regional travel information.
Taste of China will continue to develop with seasonal menu updates and overseas events. Reservations are available through Trip.com. Performances run from 12.00 to 14.00 and 19.00 to 21.00. Prices start from 1,000 yuan (US$137) per person. All dishes are pork and lard-free, and vegetarian options are available.
“Innovation opens new horizons for travel, inviting travellers to connect with the world’s destinations in richer and more meaningful ways,” commented James Liang, co-founder and chairman of Trip.com Group.
“Immersive new experiences like this show how personalisation, discovery, and interaction can expand the possibilities and inspiration of travel.”
