Liu Meng, a teacher at Yangzhou University's College of International Studies, is on a mission to bring Chinese culture to the world through the translation of classic Huaiyang cuisine dish names. Yangzhou, the birthplace of Huaiyang cuisine, is home to a rich culinary tradition.

The nine dishes included in Liu's translation project. [Photo/Jiangsu International Online]

Liu, in collaboration with the Yangtze River Group, a frequent provider of catering services for state banquets and international visits, and the university's college of tourism and culinary arts, selected nine classic Huaiyang dishes in three categories: refreshments, cold dishes, and hot dishes. In addition to dish names, Liu's team has translated illustrations and subtitles of dish cooking videos.

Liu Meng is a teacher at Yangzhou University's College of International Studies. [Photo/Jiangsu International Online]

Liu believes that a good dish name alone is able to whet the appetite. "Many Chinese restaurants don't realize the importance of menu translation, leading to inaccurate or culturally-disconnected dish names," he said, stressing that foreign language professionals should not limit themselves to linguistic knowledge but should also cultivate cross-cultural communication skills and a global perspective.