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From August 22 to 24, the Taste of Asia festival opened warmly in downtown Calgary, with crowds and energy far beyond expectations. Walking the light-draped path between stalls and stage, the most striking scene always settled in the same spot — the guochao cocktail bar reading “Cheers with Wuliangye”. It felt like a breathing landmark: ice into glasses, pure liquid arcing, rims fogging, crowds stopping, phones raised, then glasses raised. Lines stretched from afternoon into night; the crisp clink of rims mingled with stage drumbeats, giving the city’s summer night a touchable warmth and aroma.
Wuliangye’s bar was packed from day one. Bartenders built on Oriental wine aroma with modern flavours, launching two recipes — crisp pineapple and guava-cranberry: clean on entry, long and lingering in the finish, quickly easing first-time triers of Chinese baijiu cocktails. Many visitors chose a light, easy cocktail for their first glass, then, drawn by the rich-but-not-fierce aftertaste, boldly challenged a neat pour — “So this is how baijiu can be enjoyed!” became the most repeated exclamation. Phone lenses crowded onto dewy glass and refracted bottle light, while #Wuliangye and #WuliangyeCocktail heated up on social media.
At 6 p.m., the opening ceremony officially launched, the host’s brisk rhythm lifting the scene to a climax. Representatives of the Calgary Chinese business community and the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre, as organizers, took the stage to thank long-standing supporters and stress the food festival’s role as a community cultural bridge; the title sponsor’s CNOOC CEO representative offered remarks affirming the spread of Asian food and culture locally.
Dignitaries sent congratulations in turn, speaking briefly and sincerely about the city, culture, and how food connects hearts. Ceremony formality and market ease shared one space — less stiff than welcoming, like a city-wide reception. As applause and cheers scattered, crowds flowed naturally into the market’s depths, weaving between stalls as the “route map” of taste lit up step by step.
Leaving the main stage, the guests did not linger backstage or in VIP areas but walked into the crowds, experiencing the market’s vibrant energy alongside residents. / Alberta’s Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, Tanya Fir, raised a smiling glass at the Wuliangye bar, praising how this “tradition-meets-innovation” expression lets more young people naturally approach Eastern wine culture.
Mr. Wang Xiusheng, Acting Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Calgary, told audiences that food and fine wine are the best media for cross-cultural communication, and that the aroma of Chinese baijiu is enough to become a language of friendship; / Calgary City Councillor Terry Wong, saying “this flavour gives the city more memorable character”, urged the audience to “check in on the spot”; / Alberta Foundation for the Arts chair Cynthia Moore praised, from a creative and aesthetic angle, how Wuliangye’s signature serves “drinkable Oriental aesthetics” to the wider community.
As the title sponsor’s representative, / CNOOC Petroleum North America CEO Liu Xiaoxiang visited the Wuliangye bar to taste with everyone, saying business support should land in cultural practices that can be truly experienced — and the Wuliangye bar happened to let culture “settle safely into the glass”;
Former city councillor, Prostate Cancer Centre CEO and entrepreneur Jeff Davison / saw such global-yet-local experiences as the finest footnote to the city’s innovation ecosystem;
Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre representative Tony Wong / said in a group photo with vendors that / supporting Chinese baijiu culture means supporting a richer urban cultural map. The guests all raised glasses before the Wuliangye booth in celebration, voicing clear support for Chinese baijiu culture, as applause and cheers pushed the atmosphere higher again.
As night deepened, the band encored and lines still moved slowly before the bar. Someone held a glass high to photograph it against the stage lights; someone clinked rims, trading knowing smiles with friends. No need to ask “why the buzz” — the answer was written in air and light: a shareable joy, a two-way journey between city and culture. Thanks to the organizers and partners for making the city’s night flavourful; and thanks to everyone who walked up to the Wuliangye booth — your smiles and that “cheers” were the festival’s finest moments — Cheers with Wuliangye. Before the next toast, leave this aroma and warmth in Calgary’s night.
