Promoting the best of Chinese culinary culture and showcasing the appeal of the Culture City of East Asia
Macao, July 23, 2025 – Supported by the Macao Government Tourism Office and the Macao University of Tourism (UTM), Wynn once again collaborated with Huaiyang Master Chef Xue Quansheng this year to curate the Emperor Qianlong's "Culinary Journey to the South" Imperial Banquet: A Revival of Imperial Flavors at the Wynn Palace Grand Ballroom and run a special masterclass at the Wynn Food & Beverage Academy in a bid to facilitate the transmission of Chinese culinary culture. Through these events, which received full support from the Yangzhou Public Diplomacy Association, Yangzhou Cuisine and Catering Industry Association, Jiangsu College of Tourism, and Macau Yangzhou Friendship Association, Wynn hopes to introduce the unique culinary culture and intangible cultural heritage of Yangzhou to Macao, thus stimulating the innovation and exchange in the fields of gastronomy and culture, attracting more tourists from home and abroad to come and experience food tourism in Macao, and contributing to Macao's further development toward a "Creative City of Gastronomy" and "Culture City of East Asia."
Ms. Linda Chen, President, Vice Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Wynn Macau, Limited said: "Following its acclaimed debut last year, Wynn is once again presenting a feast of culinary classics and intangible cultural heritage and is injecting new momentum into this classic feast by leveraging Macao's strengths and influence as a hub of Chinese and Western cultures. The event has also allowed us to further drive the in-depth integration between culture and tourism in Macao, propel the boom of the local tourism industry chain, and demonstrate the appeal of Macao as a World Center of Tourism and Leisure."
The Emperor Qianlong's "Culinary Journey to the South" Imperial Banquet: A Revival of Imperial Flavors this year was overseen by guest chef Xue Quansheng, a revered master of Huaiyang cuisine who ranks among China's Top 10 Celebrity Chefs and is an inheritor of Yangzhou's "Three Knives," an intangible cultural heritage of Jiangsu Province. Inspired by the historical records of Emperor Qianlong's "Royal Culinary Journey to the South," Master Chef Xue teamed up with renowned chefs from mainland China and the Jiangsu College of Tourism to recreate an impressive array of 36 dishes for the Imperial Banquet by cleverly blending their modern culinary techniques and aesthetics. The banquet brought together rare delicacies and fresh ingredients from the mountains, seas, rivers, and lakes of the south of the Yangtze River, representing the pinnacle of Huaiyang cuisine, one of the four best known and most influential regional cuisines of China. Wynn immersed guests in the extraordinary Imperial Banquet featuring a perfect fusion of gastronomy, arts, and culture by also hosting fascinating performances and acclaimed chefs' showcase of supreme Huaiyang culinary artistry.
In addition, to promote culinary exchange and cooperation between Yangzhou and Macao, Wynn specially invited Master Chef Xue to conduct the Emperor Qianlong's "Culinary Journey to the South" Imperial Banquet Masterclass at the Wynn Food & Beverage Academy. He introduced the Imperial Banquet in detail and demonstrated how he prepares dishes such as Qianlong's soup with nine shredded delicacies, flowery double-flavored fish, and creative cold-cut platter to over 20 Wynn's Food & Beverage team members, revealing the skilled techniques and profound culture of Huaiyang cuisine. By providing this learning and exchange opportunity, Wynn aims to elevate the standards of Macao's catering industry, invigorate the local creative sector, and fortify the city's status as a world-acclaimed Creative City of Gastronomy.
