Xu Yongqiang is a well-known Chaozhou cuisine master born and raised in the city. For many years he has devoted himself to the practice and theoretical research of local delicacies, which has been detailed in his bestsellers at home and abroad, including Recipes of Chaozhou Dishes, Chaozhou Snacks, and On Chaozhou Cuisine. Also, he has been invited many times to countries and regions like Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Macao to share culinary skills. Due to his significant contribution toward promoting local food culture, the municipal government awarded him the Outstanding Chef of Chaozhou Cuisine in 2000. Xu has done more than a master chef to Chaozhou culture: he is also known for his remarkable Chinese paintings. His works vividly mirror a chef's daily life with specific applications of colors, strokes, and layouts. He is most famous and appreciated for his lifelike pieces of fish and other aquatic animals. Therefore, his paintings have been shown in solo exhibitions domestically and overseas and collected by galleries like Singapore Art Museum and domestic and foreign collectors.