[Video provided to etaizhou.gov.cn]

A group of South Koreans who live and work in China gathered at Liufang Tea House in Taizhou, Jiangsu province, on May 22 to participate in a cultural event co-hosted by the publicity departments of CPC Taizhou municipal committee and Hailing district committee.

The event offered an immersive introduction to Taizhou's famous morning tea culture. "It is not just a meal — it is a city name card," a local guide told the Korean guests, while weaving in the historical connection between Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang and the city of Taizhou.

Boiled shredded dried bean curd, crab roe buns, and fish soup noodles were served one after another — the classic dishes soon filling the table.

As drums rolled and gongs crashed, a classic Mei-school Peking Opera performance began on the waterside pavilion. The performer's water sleeves danced through the air, and when the singing turned to its most melodious passages, the audience erupted in applause.

After the show, two visitors took the initiative to step on stage and learn some Peking Opera movements from the performer. Though their moves were still rough around the edges, their earnest effort won a round of applause from the crowd.

"I had only ever seen Peking Opera on TV before. Experiencing it myself today, I realized every move takes real skill!" said Namgyeol Yeom, one of the Korean participants.

Throughout the event, guests transformed into unofficial "Taizhou ambassadors", curating photos of the morning's highlights — the rising steam of the dishes, the sparkling river, and the flowing sleeves of the opera singers — and sharing them across their social media accounts.

The series will continue to offer more immersive cultural experiences and invite more international friends to discover and fall in love with the city.