Screenshot of Zhang Liangren's vlog. Photo: web

A unique "food vlog" video by Professor Zhang Liangren from the Department of Archaeology and Cultural Relics at Nanjing University's School of History has gone viral.

Opening Zhang's short video account, instead of limiting himself to dry knowledge, one is greeted with a variety of mouth-watering delicacies. While watching Zhang taste the food, viewers can listen to him explaining the historical stories behind the dishes. Although the food cannot be immediately tasted, the spiritual nourishment of archaeology has satisfied the taste buds of netizens, who have exclaimed their satisfaction.

In front of the camera, Zhang transforms into a social media influencer, exploring various restaurants and checking in, while behind the scenes, he remains a rigorous scholar, deeply dedicated to the field of archaeology. At 54 years old, he has been engaged in archaeology for 36 years and has led numerous national archaeological projects. The reason for choosing this innovative approach, according to Zhang, is to use the popularity of short videos to ignite interest in relatively niche archaeological knowledge, attract more young people to learn and appreciate it, and even join the field of archaeology.

In addition to Zhang, many other professors have also opened various popular science courses online, gaining popularity among netizens. Professor Su Dechao from the School of Philosophy at Wuhan University, for example, uses accessible language and vivid metaphors to popularize philosophy online, attracting numerous young people.