Foreign visitors learn to cook Chinese dishes in Yangshuo, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Tuesday. CHINA DAILY

　　With aprons tied and chef hats on, a group of foreign visitors each stand over woks sizzling over gas burners, spatulas in hand, eagerly trying their hand at mastering the art of traditional Chinese stir-fry.

　　Yangshuo county in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, has long been a popular destination for international tourists due to its karst peaks and vibrant ethnic culture.

　　In recent years, half-day cooking workshops conducted in English by Chinese chefs are drawing more global visitors and giving them a lively way to engage with local life.

　　From selecting fresh seasonal ingredients at a bustling market to cooking iconic Yangshuo dishes, participants get to taste, create and truly connect with authentic Chinese food culture.

　　Casper Supeene, 20, a college student from Belgium who is traveling in China, was amazed to see fresh fish caught from the Lijiang River and a variety of vegetables, especially lotus root, which he had never seen before.

　　Supeene learned to prepare four dishes from scratch: Yangshuo beer fish, smashed cucumber, kung pao chicken and dumplings. He went through the whole cooking process, from washing and chopping ingredients to seasoning and stir-frying, with the teacher guiding him step by step.

　　Supeene said the most difficult part was folding and sealing the dumplings. "The filling sometimes came out, and it was hard to form the pleats neatly. But they are very delicious," he said.

　　Gregorio Villen Santiago, 36, a doctor from Spain, said, "Back home, we don"t have this kind of dumplings in our cuisine." He decided to join the workshop on the recommendation of a friend who took the course last year.