In recent years, young cook Chen Xiaodong from Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province has found himself developing something of a new niche: fried pastry portraying the image of the "awakening lion," a name for the southern style of the lion dance.

Chen perfectly integrates Cantonese dim sum with the local intangible cultural heritage of the lion dance. Such a focus has come alongside the cook's personal journey, after immersing himself for seven years in teaching students cooking skills at a specialized secondary school in Shunde District of Foshan.

As 2024 marks the Year of the Dragon according to the traditional Chinese calendar, Chen added dragon elements to his creations, resulting in the dragon-lion fried pastry. It is not only a crisp and crumbly dim sum, but also an art piece that will gladden your eyes.

Within his familiar space, Chen is also applying more elements from guochao, the rising trend of China's homegrown designs, to his food creations. He hopes to pass on his skills to more students as well.