Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently embarked on a culinary tour of Beijing, experiencing both local delights and acquired tastes, much to the amusement of onlookers and Chinese social media.
Michelin-Starred Noodles
Huang was spotted by local media enjoying "zhajiangmian" at No. 69 Fangzhuanchang Noodles. The Beijing specialty, noodles with a thick soybean-paste sauce mixed with veggies and meat, earned his enthusiastic approval. No. 69 Fangzhuanchang Noodles is a Michelin-starred noodle restaurant in Beijing, holding a Bib Gourmand distinction awarded to establishments with excellent food at a reasonable price. "It's so good," he declared, eating in front of the restaurant entrance as crowds filmed him.
Divisive Beverage
Not all local flavors were to his taste. The Nvidia chief was captured on video wincing after trying "douzhi'er," a gray-green, slightly sour fermented soybean drink. This classic Beijing beverage, known for its divisive appeal, saw Huang's reaction trend on Weibo, China's social media platform, on Friday afternoon. He quickly bought a sweet drink from Mixue Bingcheng to recover.
Historic Neighborhood
His culinary exploration took place during a tour of the Nanluoguxiang area in Beijing's eastern district. This historic neighborhood is renowned for its distinctive traditional low-rise "hutong" homes, now a vibrant mix of shops, restaurants, and residential spaces. While many houses had been demolished, Beijing had preserved a small section.
Air Force One Invitation
Huang, whose company is a key player in the global A.I. race, was welcomed onto Air Force One late on Tuesday. After seeing reports that Huang was not coming, Trump reportedly called him on Tuesday morning and extended an invitation, a person familiar with the conversation told The New York Times.
"This is an incredible opportunity for me to represent the United States of course, and to come support President Trump in one of the most important summits in human history," Huang told reporters on the sidelines of the event on Thursday. "The two presidents, President Xi and President Trump have such a wonderful relationship, this is an incredible opportunity for us to rely on the relationships to build a much, much better partnership," he added.
