Like many people around the world, 39-year-old Hong Kong native Yan Zhaofeng enjoys his homeland's cuisine. But his love for Hong Kong's food culture goes beyond most people's – so much so, in fact, he felt the drive to share it with the rest of the world.
After his graduation and a short work stint in Canada, Yan came to Beijing to set up his herbal restaurant café. Yan said he gave up a steady income and comfortable life in Canada because he found a sense of belonging and pride after first arriving in Beijing before 1997.
Yan's passion for Beijing has apparently paid off. Herbal Café has won several awards and has been called one of the best Cantonese restaurants in the Chinese mainland. Yan recently opened the restaurant's fifth branch in Beijing's Central Business District, one of the city's busiest commercial areas.
Yan believes Herbal Café is not only a place for people to meet up for meals but also a great platform to promote healthy dietary habits and culture.
Yan's restaurant has also attracted a lot of Hong Kong celebrities like Jackie Chan to dine here while attending events in Beijing.
Yan Zhaofeng's Herbal Café is a success story; he is ushering many guests across his "culinary bridge" between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.
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