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Meet Chen Xiaodong, the 24-year-old culinary whiz from Shunde, Guangdong, who’s turning heads with his ‘lion’s head pastries’ – a flaky, buttery homage to the region’s iconic lion dance culture. In a 3-minute video showcase, Chen layers tradition with TikTok-era flair, shaping golden pastry ‘manes’ using techniques passed down through generations of Cantonese chefs.
His creations – crispy on the outside, sweet red bean or lotus paste inside – are dubbed ‘China-chic’ for blending heritage aesthetics with Gen Z’s bold visual language. ‘Every sprinkle of sesame is like the lion’s whiskers coming alive,’ Chen says, proving that ancient art forms can find new life in a chef’s scraper and oven.
As youth worldwide reconnect with cultural roots through food, Chen’s kitchen becomes ground zero for answering: How do we keep traditions fresh? With 63K followers on Douyin and counting, this chef’s answer tastes like success.
NewspaperAmigo – Your Global News Buddy 
In a 3-minute video showcase, Chen layers tradition with TikTok-era flair, shaping golden pastry ‘manes’ using techniques passed down through generations of Cantonese chefs.
‘Every sprinkle of sesame is like the lion’s whiskers coming alive,’ Chen says, proving that ancient art forms can find new life in a chef’s scraper and oven.
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