“Xi Jinping Meal” is a hit in China
A restaurant has become famous after being visited by President Xi Jinping and the dishes on the Chinese leader's menu are said to be linked to his anti-corruption campaign.
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| “Xi Jinping Meal” is a hit in China |
On December 28, 2013, President Xi Jinping made a surprise visit to a restaurant belonging to the Qingfeng Steamed Food chain in the west of Beijing. The appearance of the Chinese leader at a food store quickly attracted the attention of those around him.
Still, Xi lined up with everyone else before ordering a lunch menu of pork and onion dumplings, green vegetables, and stewed pig liver, which cost 21 yuan (about $3.20).
President Xi’s visit to Qingfeng Restaurant immediately “caused a stir” on the internet. Chinese people quickly named Xi’s meal “Chairman Combo” and asked Qingfeng Restaurant to add this meal to the menu.
"Chairman Combo" attracts the attention of many Chinese people. Photo: SCMP
What made President Xi Jinping’s meal so remarkable was that Chinese people associated the dishes with his anti-corruption campaign. They believed that the pig liver Xi ate meant that corrupt officials would be fired. Meanwhile, the green vegetables sounded like a Chinese proverb, meaning “beware of wealth,” referring to ill-gotten gains.
Many people flocked to Qingfeng restaurants to enjoy the “Chairman Combo” which they believed contained hidden anti-corruption messages. In just two years, Qingfeng increased its chain of stores by more than 70%, reaching 314 branches by the end of 2015. In August 2017, Qingfeng opened its first overseas restaurant in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city.
