"I like the ambience and the view," said Mesh from South Africa about a German-style restaurant called Lenbach in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province.
Mesh has been living in Xi'an for six years and is currently a foreign teacher at a school. He has traveled to Germany many times before and stumbled upon the restaurant during his time in Xi'an.
Guests enjoy a view of the Xi'an City Wall while dining at the German-style restaurant Lenbach in Xi'an. [Photo/Xi'an news network]
He likes the restaurant's antler-shaped chandelier, the retro-inspired wallpaper, the airy dining space, and the close proximity to the ancient Xi'an City Wall.
Zhang Yanhong, an investor of the restaurant, also loves the ambience.
Since August 2018, Lenbach, which has many stores across the country, has opened four stores in Xi'an. All of its investors, store managers, chefs and other employees are from Xi'an, yet they have achieved the ultimate in German cuisine.
A waiter prepares beer at the German-style restaurant in Xi'an. [Photo/Xi'an news network]
According to Zhang, Lenbach used to send a team of chefs to Germany every year to study its cuisine. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, top chefs are now invited to Xi'an every quarter to teach authentic German cooking techniques.
"All beer sold at the restaurant is imported from Germany, and all ingredients, dishes, and even the presentation have uniform standards," Zhang said.
Xi'an has established sister city relations with Germany's Dortmund and Oldenburg. With the acceleration of Xi'an's internationalization, more and more foreigners are coming to work and study in the city.
Xi'an is embracing the world with an inclusive and open attitude.
German thin pancakes are sold at the restaurant in Xi'an. [Photo/Xi'an news network]