Economic Downturn: China's "Barbecue Academy" Enrolls 30, Over 4000 Apply
Amid China's economic downturn and rising unemployment, the "Yueyang Barbecue Academy" in Hunan, China's first barbecue school, attracted over 4,000 applicants for its initial enrollment. With only 30 spots available, the acceptance rate was less than 0.75%. The one-month training costs 5,800 RMB and leads to a 'Chinese Culinary Chef (Barbecue Chef)' skill certificate.
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Taipei, May 10) Amid China's economic downturn leading to high unemployment, China's first barbecue academy, "Yueyang Barbecue Academy" located in Hunan, attracted a large number of applicants after its first enrollment drive. Chinese media reported that over 4,000 people applied to the "Yueyang Barbecue Academy," but only 30 were admitted, making the acceptance rate less than 0.75%.
According to Chinese media reports including Jimu News and Chao News, the "Yueyang Barbecue Academy," jointly established by Yueyang Open University and Yueyang Barbecue Association in July 2025, officially announced its enrollment on March 9 this year. The response was enthusiastic, with numerous applicants and inquiries. By the application deadline on April 9, the number of applicants exceeded 4,000, far exceeding expectations.
Jiang Zongfu, Vice President of Yueyang Open University, who promoted the establishment of the "Yueyang Barbecue Academy," stated that the school ultimately decided to admit only 30 students. This is partly to ensure teaching quality, allowing each student to receive practical operational guidance. A more direct practical reason is that the academy's student dormitory is still under renovation, and currently, students can only be arranged to stay in hotels, paying 50 RMB per person per day (approximately 230 New Taiwan Dollars) themselves, with the rest subsidized by the school.
According to the report, the "Yueyang Barbecue Academy" barbecue skills training course lasts for one month and costs 5,800 RMB. Upon passing the assessment, students can obtain a "Chinese Culinary Chef (Barbecue Chef)" skill certificate issued by the Chinese authorities.
Jiang Zongfu stated that Yueyang is known as the "City of Barbecue," and barbecue belongs to "light-asset employment," where "one grill can support a family." The launch of skills training aims to enable more people to master a practical skill and to provide standardized talent for the barbecue industry.
According to the report, students in the barbecue class must go to the traditional market at 3:30 AM every day to observe the beef butchering process. Industry professionals personally teach them about beef cuts, beef fat quality, and ingredient selection techniques, hoping to establish standardized operating procedures.
However, the "Yueyang Barbecue Academy" barbecue skills training course has also sparked considerable debate. Some believe that a tuition fee of 5,800 RMB for just one month seems to be a form of "cutting leeks" (exploitation). Some barbecue practitioners also believe that barbecue styles vary greatly across different regions of China, and a single local "barbecue academy" can hardly represent the entire industry culture. They also point out that true barbecue skills rely on long-term practical experience, not short-term courses. (Editors: Qiu Guojiang / Tian Ruihua) 1150510
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(Central News Agency, Taipei, May 10) Amid China's economic downturn leading to high unemployment, China's first barbecue academy, "Yueyang Barbecue Academy" located in Hunan, attracted a large number of applicants after its first enrollment drive. Chinese media reported that over 4,000 people applied to the "Yueyang Barbecue Academy," but only 30 were admitted, making the acceptance rate less than 0.75%.
According to Chinese media reports including Jimu News and Chao News, the "Yueyang Barbecue Academy," jointly established by Yueyang Open University and Yueyang Barbecue Association in July 2025, officially announced its enrollment on March 9 this year. The response was enthusiastic, with numerous applicants and inquiries. By the application deadline on April 9, the number of applicants exceeded 4,000, far exceeding expectations.
Jiang Zongfu, Vice President of Yueyang Open University, who promoted the establishment of the "Yueyang Barbecue Academy," stated that the school ultimately decided to admit only 30 students. This is partly to ensure teaching quality, allowing each student to receive practical operational guidance. A more direct practical reason is that the academy's student dormitory is still under renovation, and currently, students can only be arranged to stay in hotels, paying 50 RMB per person per day (approximately 230 New Taiwan Dollars) themselves, with the rest subsidized by the school.
According to the report, the "Yueyang Barbecue Academy" barbecue skills training course lasts for one month and costs 5,800 RMB. Upon passing the assessment, students can obtain a "Chinese Culinary Chef (Barbecue Chef)" skill certificate issued by the Chinese authorities.
Jiang Zongfu stated that Yueyang is known as the "City of Barbecue," and barbecue belongs to "light-asset employment," where "one grill can support a family." The launch of skills training aims to enable more people to master a practical skill and to provide standardized talent for the barbecue industry.
According to the report, students in the barbecue class must go to the traditional market at 3:30 AM every day to observe the beef butchering process. Industry professionals personally teach them about beef cuts, beef fat quality, and ingredient selection techniques, hoping to establish standardized operating procedures.
However, the "Yueyang Barbecue Academy" barbecue skills training course has also sparked considerable debate. Some believe that a tuition fee of 5,800 RMB for just one month seems to be a form of "cutting leeks" (exploitation). Some barbecue practitioners also believe that barbecue styles vary greatly across different regions of China, and a single local "barbecue academy" can hardly represent the entire industry culture. They also point out that true barbecue skills rely on long-term practical experience, not short-term courses. (Editors: Qiu Guojiang / Tian Ruihua) 1150510
Stand with facts, your every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.