The grinder hums softly, filling the air with the rich aroma of Colombian coffee beans. In the stone kiln oven, French-style Provençal vanilla bread glistens with a golden sheen. In the freezer, Greek-style yogurt ice cream shimmers with mouth-watering allure... These international gourmet treats, seemingly exclusive to big cities, are now wafting their aromas right to the doorsteps of villagers in this “hidden gem” of a rural village in northern Liaoning.
Friendship Village, Yaopu Town, Tieling County, Tieling City, Liaoning Province, is ringed by lush emerald mountains and steeped in quiet pastoral poetry. Nestled among these poetic landscapes sits the internet-famous bakery “Nutri Bakery”. “Come on, let’s go to the village for coffee and bread!”—“Locals used to be unaccustomed to coffee, and kiln-baked bread was unheard-of. Now neighbors drop by for a latte and a chat, then leave with a freshly baked loaf for breakfast,” said Wan Changzhong, the bakery owner. He sprinkled Tieling hazelnuts over a bowl of Greek-style yogurt as he shared his vision for the “Rural Michelin” project.
“What we want to create is a ‘rural Michelin with soul’,” said Wan Changzhong, who was born in Tieling County. In his youth, he traveled to more than 30 countries and regions around the world. It was these repeated experiences of tasting diverse international cuisines that sparked a simple wish in him: to transform the unchanging “rustic vibe” of his hometown and create a new countryside with “international flair” in northern Liaoning. “The ‘Chinese flavor’ has long been enjoyed overseas, and our rural food culture should also become more cosmopolitan. Now, rural residents are living better lives. They have the spending capacity and the desire to experience and enjoy different lifestyles. Internationalization needn’t be exclusive to metropolises; it can also thrive in small villages,” Wan Changzhong said excitedly.
To change the “rustic vibe” of his hometown, he started by enriching villagers’ palates. “Many people ask me why I chose to return to my hometown to start a business. The answer is simple—I want villagers to enjoy world cuisine without traveling far, and I want this beautiful Korean ethnic village to gain new vitality.” So, Wan Changzhong built a kiln to bake European-style bread, imported coffee beans to brew authentic American coffee, and sourced ingredients globally to recreate Greek-style yogurt, thus creating a new consumption scenario. “In the future, Nutri Bakery will evolve into a culinary bridge connecting the world with the countryside. Villagers will embrace a new lifestyle, and city dwellers will find the life they yearn for here.” Wan Changzhong said, “The ‘cosmopolitan’ rural life is becoming increasingly captivating, full of hope and promise.”
“Now the village not only boasts a beautiful environment and diverse businesses, but also embraces many new cultures and ideas. Rural revitalization is not just about local specialties; it can also be modern and international,” said Wan Changzhong. Watching young visitors holding cappuccinos and taking photos by the distant rice fields, he is full of confidence.
