中国·福州——热爱城市从热爱美食开始

Have you ever seen the world’s largest stuffed fish ball? Do you know how a fish is turned into fish balls? On June 26, 30 primary school students from Fuzhou No. 32 Middle School (a K-9 school) joined the Fuzhou Evening News Writing Camp. Led by Ke Zhichao, Party Secretary of the school, Xu Changyong, Secretary of the Youth League, and Lin Jingwei, a full-time Chinese teacher for the primary-to-middle school transition, the students visited the Fuzhou Fish Ball Museum, the Maritime Fuzhou (Lianjiang) Themed Pavilion, and the “Qiu Guan Lang” Digital Fish Ball Restaurant. They explored the rich culture of Fuzhou’s fish balls and gained insights into the dynamic development of the “Maritime Fuzhou” initiative.

The children touched the bronze statue of the world’s largest stuffed fish ball.

Exploring the Museum, Experiencing Fish Ball Culture

Fuzhou fish balls, also known as “Fu Balls,” are a distinctive symbol of Mindu culture, “Fu” culture, and “Maritime Fuzhou.”

Lianjiang is the primary birthplace and production hub of Fuzhou fish balls, producing one in every four fish balls nationwide.

The young campers visited the “Maritime Fuzhou” (Lianjiang) Themed Pavilion.

The young campers visited the Fuzhou Fish Ball Museum, located in the Kuilongfang Historical District of Lianjiang, as the first stop of the event. Curated by the Fuzhou Evening News, it’s China’s first museum dedicated to “Fu” culture, with a special focus on fish balls. The museum has become a popular destination for student study tours.

“Wow, it’s so big! Come on, let’s touch it for good luck!” The campers excitedly crowded around the world’s largest bronze fish ball statue, eager to take some of that good fortune home with them.

The lifelike street scenes inside the museum, featuring a Fuzhou fish ball shop and a pot edge paste stall, made the campers feel as though they had traveled back to ancient Fuzhou. The 17 model dishes from the Lianma Family Banquet, such as “Huang Yu Zhu Lang” (Yellow Croaker Chasing the Waves), “Zhao Cai Jin Bao” (Fortune-Bringing Abalone), and “Jue Dai Jia Ren” (Exquisite Beauty of the Kelp), were so realistic that the campers couldn’t resist snapping photos.

In the Root Exploration Hall, the campers learned about Zheng He’s voyages to the West and Chen Zhenlong’s introduction of sweet potatoes. In the Flavor Discovery Hall, they explored the six-step process of making fish balls. In the Fortune Seeking Hall, they experienced the tradition of collecting five blessings… The campers enjoyed an immersive exploration of the Fuzhou Fish Ball Museum.

In China, two out of every three kelp seedlings and one out of every three abalones come from Lianjiang… After touring the Fuzhou Fish Ball Museum, the young campers visited the Maritime Fuzhou (Lianjiang) Themed Pavilion, where they explored the dynamic development of the “Maritime Fuzhou” initiative in Lianjiang.

As part of the school’s “Principal and Party Secretary Take Me on a Study Tour” program, Secretary Ke Zhichao also delivered an engaging lesson on ideological and political education to the young campers right inside the museum.

Learning to Make Fish Balls, Discovering the Charm of Intangible Cultural Heritage

Adjacent to the Fuzhou Fish Ball Museum is the “Qiu Guan Lang” digital fish ball restaurant. Under the guidance of Chen Yiqian, the third-generation inheritor of “Qiu Guan Lang” fish balls, the young campers had the chance to try their hand at making Lianjiang fish balls, a representative item of intangible cultural heritage in the region.

Chen Yiqian taught the children how to make fish balls.

The children made fish balls on their own.

　　The young campers got the hang of it quickly. With one hand holding the fish paste and the other holding the filling, they clenched their fingers, applying just the right amount of pressure, and one by one, plump fish balls were “squeezed” out from between their fingers…

　　Finally, at the digital fish ball restaurant, the young campers savored the delicious “Chen Yu Luo Yan”—their handmade fish balls served with Lianjiang pork wontons.

The children tasted the fish balls they made themselves.

“This fish ball journey was both delicious and fun, and I learned a lot. It was my first time visiting the Fuzhou Fish Ball Museum, where I learned about the history and evolution of fish balls. It really broadened my perspective. It was also my first time making and tasting fish balls, which gave me a deeper appreciation for the culture behind this dish,” said camper Li Ziwu. She also participated in a quiz and won a fish ball-themed prize.

Cross-Disciplinary Integration: Sharing Insights Gained Through Learning

In the afternoon, teachers Xu Changyong and Lin Jingwei from the school provided cross-disciplinary guidance to the young campers, offering insights from biology (science) and Chinese, respectively. They provided multi-faceted support to help the campers write their reflections.

“Today, you’ve learned about the history and evolution of Fuzhou fish balls. What associations can you make from this?” “How should we approach Fuzhou’s marine resources? We should study, utilize, and protect them, carefully weighing both the benefits and potential drawbacks when developing these resources.” The two teachers stressed the importance of connecting subject knowledge with the day’s experiences, encouraging the campers to think creatively and make wider connections. They guided them to draw deeper insights from the smaller details, focusing on feelings and raising the level of their reflections.

During the writing session, Teacher Lin Jingwei offered several key tips: write about what excites you most, focus on the details of what you want to express, use vivid language, and let your imagination run wild. With his guidance, the young campers were inspired and produced many wonderful sentences.

“Though small, the fish ball represents a vast world. It’s not just a Fuzhou delicacy, but a unique symbol of Mindu culture.”

“The world-famous Fuzhou fish balls carry a sense of nostalgia, warmth, and a cultural legacy that remains close to our hearts. As the youth of today, it is our responsibility to preserve and promote the culture of Fuzhou fish balls.”

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At the end of the event, Teacher Lin Jingwei commented on the young campers’ compositions and selected winners for titles of “Best Writer,” “Writing Expert,” and “Observation Expert.”

Ke Zhichao, Party Secretary of the Party Committee of Fuzhou No. 32 Middle School, shared the story of “Maritime Fuzhou.”

Ke Zhichao, Party Secretary of the Party Committee at Fuzhou No. 32 Middle School, explained that this is an immersive journey of “Broad Moral Education”—one that connects with the ancient roots of fishing and farming civilization, while uncovering the wisdom embedded in the food culture of the Fuzhou people. By crafting fish paste by hand, the campers experienced the craftsmanship behind the transformation of fish into fish balls. Through writing exercises, they honed their ability to balance “academic excellence and moral development,” making this study tour a classroom for absorbing spiritual nourishment and shaping the new generation of the future.

Highlights of Ideological and Political Education

Fuzhou No. 32 Middle School: Creating a “Nine-Year Consistent Education” Path for Growth

Fuzhou No. 32 Middle School is committed to establishing an educational system based on a “Nine-Year Consistent Model,” integrating five key areas: moral education, intellectual education, aesthetic education, physical education, and labor education. The school takes a holistic approach to ideological and political education, focusing on “academic excellence, moral integrity, and practical application.” It also emphasizes values such as “cherishing life, valuing time, nurturing critical thinking, and fostering a love of learning.” This framework forms the foundation of the school’s “Nine-Year Consistent Education” path for student growth.

The school employs various methods, including interactive ideological and political classrooms, cross-disciplinary integration practices, and activities to enhance scientific literacy, allowing students to draw spiritual nourishment from a blend of tradition and innovation. This helps them nurture a deep love for the Party, the country, and their hometown, fostering a new generation of young people ready to take on their responsibilities.　(Fuzhou Evening News Reporters: Zheng Ruiyang, Zhou Taomao/Text, Bao Hua/Photo)