Chao Zheng

Chaozhou cuisine, abbreviated as Chao cuisine, is the origin of this project titled "Chao Zheng," representing authentic Chaozhou cuisine. It is a renowned culinary style both domestically and internationally, serving as a mainstay and representative of Guangdong cuisine, one of China's four major culinary traditions. Famed for its "color, aroma, taste, and presentation," Chaozhou cuisine boasts a history of over a thousand years. It emphasizes carefully selected ingredients, refined techniques, and a blend of Chinese and Western flavors, with the motto “Eat in Guangzhou, savor in Chaozhou” echoing worldwide. The culinary techniques of Chaozhou cuisine are listed as part of Guangdong’s intangible cultural heritage. The design intent of this project is to explore Chao cuisine, known for its regional flavors, especially in seafood preparation, emphasizing original taste. Its reputation for high-quality ingredients and meticulous knife skills, along with diverse cooking methods, aims for a perfect balance of color, aroma, and taste, earning it the title of one of China's highest-end cuisines, aligning well with the high-end positioning of this project. A major characteristic of Chaozhou cooking is its heavy reliance on seafood, with various cooking methods including braising, stewing, frying, deep-frying, steaming, stir-frying, baking, sautéing, blanching, poaching, stewing, marinating, smoking, drizzling, and roasting, among dozens of others. The design theme of one area centers on the cliffs and ravines, akin to a ray of light in a "gorge," embodying the saying, "Where there is light in the gorge, all places are bathed in it." The ceiling of the main hall features a square structure with a "concave" deep pit, allowing a view of its steepness, where the distinct mountain ridges appear as if sculpted by divine craftsmanship. This awe-inspiring design exudes grandeur, drawing people in while revealing hidden wonders. It evokes images of lush peaks and serene waters. The green pines growing on the "rocks" symbolize the breath of life and the idea of renewal, capturing the essence of “Wildfire cannot destroy it; spring breeze brings it back to life.”