China memories spark inspiration

She found herself captivated by Wuyi Mountains during her travels. "Coming from an island, I haven't seen mountain landscapes like this before," she says. "I also experienced tea culture. Back home, we drink a lot of coffee, but immersing myself in the Chinese tea culture was fascinating."

After observing the tea-making process and sampling local varieties, she discovered a new favorite — Dahongpao oolong tea. "I fell in love with it after the first sip," she says, adding that she brought some back for her mother, who also enjoyed it.

She was also impressed by Fujian's culinary offerings. Although her hometown is coastal as well, she notes that the seafood preparation techniques in Fujian are different from what she is accustomed to.

As the contestants concluded their visit to Quanzhou, they boarded the Fuxing high-speed train to Fuzhou, a cutting-edge model developed in China with full intellectual property rights.

"We gained a deep understanding of Chinese culture by visiting many places in Fujian, like Wuyi Mountains, where we experienced its tea culture," says Yasmine Sayed Mohamad Hamed Osman, the African champion of the competition. "It was a good opportunity to learn more about China."