A pinch of history, a dash of change

Beyond the viral restaurant

The season brings together guests from different fields, including comedian Li Dan, entrepreneur Luo Yonghao, historian Wang Di, food anthropologist Cao Yu and food culture scholar Gao Wenqi.

Their different perspectives bring history, anthropology and humor into conversations that begin with food.

"We want the guide to offer a first-person perspective, taking audiences along to see the world, rather than adopting an all-knowing viewpoint that tells them what to think or simply delivers information," said Zhu Lexian, the season's executive producer.

"By including more personal experiences, we hope to make the film more human and invite viewers to connect with the people on screen," he said.

The series takes a different approach from many short videos and algorithm-driven recommendations that increasingly shape dining choices. Instead of focusing solely on popular venues, it explores the local history and everyday practices behind the food.

Chen acknowledged the usefulness of online data but cautioned against assuming that one recommendation suits everyone. "I hope my food guide won't necessarily be everyone else's food guide, and the restaurants we visit aren't necessarily places everyone needs to check off their list," he said.

"Your experience of food should be based on your own life experience," he added, urging viewers against treating the restaurants featured in the program as must-visit destinations.

Instead, the series explores how local knowledge can enrich a meal. In Lhasa, an acquaintance of Chen's led the crew to a small shop selling yak meat buns in a narrow alley, a place visitors unfamiliar with the city might struggle to find.

For travelers, the point is less about following a prescribed itinerary than appreciating the value of local knowledge. A dish becomes more meaningful when someone can explain its ingredients, preparation and place in everyday life.

For Chen, the wider significance of food lies in its ability to connect personal experience with social change. A dish can reveal how a city has evolved, how tourism has transformed local businesses or how culinary traditions travel between regions.

In China Beyond Tastes 2, the food provides the starting point. People who make it, the stories they share and the changing circumstances around them reveal the larger picture.

Contact the writer at liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn