Travel agency launches immersive dining in Shanghai

Travel agency Trip.com Group has unveiled "Taste of China", an immersive 90-minute dining experience which blends cuisine, digital storytelling and live performances. The initiative targets deeper culinary heritage exploration amid booming cross-border travel.

Held at a panoramic dining theater in Shanghai's renovated Bund City Hall Plaza, the experience, guided by animated panda chef Cheng BaoBao, covers seven Chinese regions via seven signature dishes. Highlights include Peking Duck with jasmine tea; Sour Soup Fish with Pu'er tea; herbal hot pot, including marbled beef and abalone; and upgraded Mapo Tofu with wagyu and lobster, which represent local tastes from various regions of the country.

Hanfu dance performances, Shaolin martial arts, interactive "fishing" games and a Sichuan opera face-changing finale with rock music accentuate the vibe, while guests may arrive two hours early for traditional costume styling, including hanfu and cheongsams.

"Innovation opens new horizons for travel, inviting travelers to connect with the world's destinations in richer and more meaningful ways," said James Liang, co-founder and chairman of Trip.com Group.

"Immersive new experiences like this show how personalization, discovery and interaction can expand the possibilities and inspiration of travel."

The launch ties in with Trip.com's focus on culinary tourism. According to the company's latest data, in the first half of 2025, culinary travel bookings rose by 30 percent year-on-year, with Paris, London, New York, Madrid and Milan topping the list of global dining destinations, while the leaders in China are Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Changsha.

Taste of China is now open for reservations on the Trip website. The experience will evolve with seasonal menus, overseas pop-ups and tours, delivering fresh stories and flavors globally.

If you go

Hours: 12 pm to 2 pm, 7 pm to 9 pm, from Monday to Sunday

Location: Unit LG1-03, The Bund City Hall Plaza, 270 Henan Middle Road, Huangpu district, Shanghai