Worldwide, 49 new cities have joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) following their designation by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, recognizing their commitment to placing culture and creativity at the heart of their development and sharing knowledge and good practices.

The Network now numbers 295 cities in 90 countries that invest in culture and creativity – crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music – to advance sustainable urban development.

The UCCN was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.

Huai'an city in east China's Jiangsu province made it one of the 49 cities to join this year due to its reputation and ingenuity in gastronomy. Here we look at the five Chinese cities listed for their culinary creations and delicious cuisine.

5.Huaian, east China's Jiangsu province

UCCN membership year: 2021

Huaian is one of the cradles of Huaiyang cuisine, making up China's "Four Cuisines" together with Lu, Yue, and Chuan cuisines, representing the dishes of east, north, and south and west China, respectively.

Local to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and Huaihe River, Huaiyang cuisine mainly uses aquatic products as ingredients and pursues the original flavors of food.