Russian Blogger Maks “Rushes to Zibo for Barbecue”: A Cultural Journey Igniting Cross - border Taste Buds

大众网2025-03-25 14:44

　　Recently, Russian blogger Maks travelled thousands of miles to Zhangdian District, Zibo City, Shandong Province, China, embarking on a city exploration journey named after "barbecue". From the smoky Muyangcun Barbecue Restaurant, to the bustling Badaju Barbecue Street, and then to the creative barbecue courtyard, Maks not only tasted the special cuisine of Zhangdian, but also experienced the new cultural and tourism vitality of this old industrial city through in - depth interactions with local citizens.

　　At his first stop, Maks entered the Muyangcun Barbecue Restaurant, which is famous for its "three - piece set" of a small grill, small pancakes, and dipping sauce. The shop owner enthusiastically demonstrated the unique way of eating Zibo barbecue to him: placing the kebabs that are about 70 - 80% cooked on the small grill for re - roasting, coating them with dipping sauce and adding scallions, and then wrapping them with a small pancake. "This is the 'ritual sense' that Zibo people love the most!" Maks exclaimed while learning. "Russian barbecue is bold and unrestrained, but Zibo barbecue has an extra touch of delicacy and interactivity!"

　　The next day, Maks visited the Badaju Museum. This place used to be a farmers' market in the old urban area of Zibo. Now, due to the barbecue craze, it has transformed into an internet - famous landmark that integrates food and culture. The Badaju Museum covers a total area of 1,000 square meters and has seven themed exhibition halls, including "Love My Hometown", "That Era", "Made in Zibo", and "Ceramics and Glass". Through these exhibition halls, Maks learned about the historical changes, cultural characteristics, and development achievements of Badaju and even Zibo from multiple perspectives. From old - fashioned official seals and a steelyard to modern industrial products and exquisite ceramic and glass artworks, each exhibit carries the weight of profound history and culture. Today, the Badaju Market is no longer just a simple place for commodity trading but a comprehensive commercial block integrating food, shopping, and entertainment. Special snacks such as purple rice cakes, stir - fried pan cakes, and pumpkin strips have attracted countless diners to come and taste. The opening of the museum has added a strong cultural atmosphere and historical heritage to this area.

　　For his last stop, Maks came to the Bamboo Grove Barbecue Courtyard. Amidst the swaying bamboo shadows, there were artistic sculptures dotted around. Maks had a lively chat with local young people. A post - 95 shop owner shared her experience of developing the "barbecue - themed blind boxes". "Inside the blind boxes, there are mini - grill models, hand - drawn postcards of small pancakes, and secret dipping sauce packets from famous Shandong cuisine chefs. It's both fun and spreads the culture!" Maks exclaimed in admiration, "The young people in Zhangdian are using creativity to preserve traditions. This is even more surprising than the barbecue itself!"

　　During the three - day trip, Maks deeply felt the urban development strategy of Zhangdian District. Whether it was the Muyangcun shop owner's commitment to the quality of ingredients, the vibrant street - level atmosphere of the Badaju area, or the artistic innovation of the Bamboo Grove Courtyard, they all demonstrated the diverse aspects of the transformation of this old industrial city. In his summary, he wrote, "Zibo barbecue is not just food but also the sincerity of a city. The efficient service of the government, the sincere hospitality of the citizens, and the innovative expression of culture together form the 'code for breaking into the spotlight' of Zhangdian."