'Cultural ice creams' cater to cravings for nation's rich history

Walking through the majestic Old Summer Palace in Beijing, most visitors feel a deep connection to history that is only possible in places steeped in such grandeur.

The sunlight falls on Fuhai Lake, and the air is thick with the scent of willow trees, blending with the subtle fragrance of lotus flowers floating on the water.

But what if you could capture this essence? Hold it in your hands, or even taste it?

Zheng Aonan, a designer known for blending cultural heritage with contemporary trends, believes the answer lies in the unlikely form of ice cream.

"When I was asked to design a line of ice cream products for the Old Summer Palace, the first image that came to mind, like many visitors, was the palace ruins and its picturesque gardens," Zheng recalled.

"But then, through my research, I discovered the annual lotus festival where hundreds of varieties of lotuses bloom across the scenic area."

Inspired by this, he created a series of lotus-shaped ice creams on a stick, with popular flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. The design of the lotus ice cream was also inspired by the stone carvings found in the ruins.