Every city has a unique flavour that carries nostalgia on the tip of local people’s tongue. What kind of sweet story will come out of the collision as Wenzhou's double-cooked cake meets Turin's chocolate? In this video, , an Italian sinologist who is now living in Rui'an, Wenzhou, and Chen Ming, a Chinese youth who is now living in Turin, engage in a dialogue across the mountains and the sea, so that the cultures of the two cities could have a sweet encounter.

① Wenzhou: The inheritance of a sweet century-old brand

There is a long-established store named Li Da Tong in Rui'an, Wenzhou, which was founded in 1889, during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. Its double-cooked cake, sesame cake, hollow moon cake, hibiscus candy are not only traditional specialities of southern Zhejiang, but also the childhood memories of Wenzhou people, who can't live without the companionship of Li Da Tong's pastries.

Bonino Gabriella, a sinologist from Turin, Italy (an honorary citizen of Wenzhou), has been living in Wenzhou for many years and is deeply interested in Rui'an's intangible culture. She said: “Turin is the capital of chocolate, and I taste the eastern chocolate in Li Da Tong.” Through savoring Li Da Tong's pastries, Bonino not only tasted the unique sweetness of the century-old inherited pastries, but also was deeply attracted by the wonderful story of Li Da Tong's pastries and Rui'an's folk culture.

② Turin: A love letter from a 160-year-old chocolatier

Turin, more than 9,000 kilometers away from Rui'an, is known as the sweetest place in Europe. The ‘Baratti & Milano’ chocolate shop in Turin is over 160 years old. The years have left their marks on this shop that is full of mirrors, bronze, marble and mosaic decorations. The chocolate shop still adheres to the Italian artisanal spirit, insisting on handmade products, so that each chocolate tells the story of Turin's classic elegance.

“Turin's chocolate, like Wenzhou's double-cooked cakes, always evokes the nostalgia of countless Wenzhou people.” said Chen Ming, an overseas Chinese from Wenzhou. As a Wenzhoun people living in Turin, he serves as the president of the Italian Chinese Youth Association. While managing his own business, he actively promotes cultural exchanges between the two countries, opening a window of friendly exchange between Wenzhou and Turin. He hopes that more people in Wenzhou will understand Turin through chocolate, also more Italians could feel the sweetness of Wenzhou’s traditional pastries.