A campaign to encourage participating in volunteer service and adopting healthier dining habits is held in Gongshu district, Hangzhou, on May 30. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

World-famous Chinese pianist Lang Lang was hired as Zhejiang's promotion ambassador of healthy dining habits and Hangzhou's ambassador of volunteer service, local media reported on June 5.

The COVID-19 outbreak has challenged the deep-seated Chinese dining tradition of sharing dishes communally, causing both governments and restaurants to reimagine mealtime etiquette.

"It is a more efficient way to eat with each dish served with a separate pair of chopsticks," joked Lang Lang during the event.

He said he used to feel awkward to use serving chopsticks when dine with friends but the new role as ambassador will give him a percent reason to stick to the good habit. "I hope everyone can follow my lead and dine in a healthy and hygiene manner."

It is the second time that Lang Lang has been committed as Hangzhou's ambassador. "Hangzhou is like another Paris in the East. It's a city of beauty and arts," he said. [Photo/langlangfoundation.org]

Since March, the municipal government has written the use of serving chopsticks into this year's major tasks. Over 10 departments have jointly formulated specifications and guidelines for the catering industry.

To date, over 80 percent of Hangzhou's large restaurants and hotels have followed the guidelines. It has become a new fashions for locals to eating together but separately.