For Guo Jie, a recent Columbia University graduate from Henan Province, this year's China National Day celebration felt incomplete without a steaming bowl of hulatang, a fiery pepper soup that symbolizes home. “The smell of spices roasting takes me straight back to family dinners during holidays,” she shared, reflecting on her first National Day abroad since 2020.
October 1 marked the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, with celebrations resonating across the Chinese mainland and among global communities. For young expatriates like Guo, the occasion reignites cultural connections. “Food isn’t just sustenance here—it’s a bridge,” she explained, describing how she recreated the dish for international friends in New York. “Sharing hulatang became my way of honoring traditions while building new ones.”
Her story mirrors experiences of millions studying abroad, where culinary traditions often anchor identity. Analysts note that cultural exchanges through food have surged 18% among student communities since 2022, according to recent diaspora engagement surveys. For Guo, blending her Henan roots with global experiences embodies what National Day represents: pride in heritage while shaping future connections.
Reference(s):
'We Talk': Chinese student in U.S. – One spicy soup from home
cgtn.com
