Where can you find typical Chinese dishes? 13:34, September 21, 2007

One of our readers sent us a letter saying that a magazine survey showed that 90% of the people being asked think that Chinese dishes are the most delicious in the world. Indeed, Chinese food culture has a long history and tradition. Eating is not just a way of filling the stomach, but also an art and a culture.

China is a vast country. Due to the different geography, climate and products in different areas, food culture and customs are also different; thus forming different schools of food and dishes in various areas. Before the Qing Dynasty(1644-1911), there were only two schools of dishes--northern and southern dishes. However, during the Qing Dynasty, there were the Lu, Yue, Huaiyang, , Min, Zhejiang, Xiang and Hui schools of food and dishes. They are also called the 8 main schools of Chinese dishes.

*Lu dishes* Lu dishes came from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period (770-221B.C.), and formed a school during the Qin and Han dynasties (221B.C.). After the Song Dynasty, Lu dishes became typical northern dishes in Beijing, Tianjin, and three provinces in northeast China. Lu dishes are also divided into Jiaodong dishes, Jinan dishes and Confucius home dishes. Recommendation Restaurant: Chunjiang Restaurant on No.56 Youth League Road, Central , Jinan city, Shandong Province Dishes: Jiuzhuan dachang--Nine turns of large intestines Tangcu Liyu---Sweet and sour carp Congshao Haisen--Cooked sea cucumber with Chinese onion and sugar Average price is 50 yuan (7 USD) per person

*Yue dishes* Yue dishes are Canton dishes, developed from three types of dishes coming from Guangzhou, Chaozhou and Dongjiang. Although they came later, they have had a greater influence. Many restaurants in Hong Kong and Macao, as well as in many other countries in the world, cook Canton dishes. The taste of Canton dishes is light, fresh and a little sweet. It also changes slightly with different seasons. Recommendation Restaurant: Bingsheng Restaurant on No. 33 Dongxiao Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong province Dishes: Cuipi Chashao--Crackling barbecued pork Chiyou Huang'e chang--Stir-fried goose's intestines with lobster sauce Jinsha Tangyuan--Golden boiled balls Tanshao Zhujingrou--Charcoal-baked pig-neck meat Average price is 70 yuan (10 USD) per person

*Huaiyang dishes* Huaiyang dishes are a combination of Huaiyin and Yangzhou dishes. They came from the Spring and Autumn period, and became popular between the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and Ming and Qing Dynasties. These dishes enjoy a reputation of being "the first taste in southeast China and the most delicious dishes in the world." There are three characteristics of Huaiyang dishes---first are the fine ingredients, mostly locally produced; second is the method of fine cutting; and the third is a focus on the taste of the ingredients themselves. Recommendation Restaurant: Shiweitian Restaurant--Meiling East Restaurant on No.20 Shikefa Road, Weiyang District, Yangzhou city, Jiangsu province Dishes: Maxiang Yazhang--Delicious duck palm with hot and numb taste Xiefen Shizitou--Lion-head with crab powder Furong Yulanpian--Stir-fried lotus and yulan petals Qingchao Xiaren--Stir-fried prawns

*Sichuan Dishes* Sichuan dishes are a combination of , Chongqing, , , and dishes; and are divided into two schools--Chengdu and Chongqing. Sichuan dishes are very spicy and hot because they use many ingredients including onion, ginger, garlic, chili, white pepper, brown pepper, vinegar, soya beans, catsup and fermented rice so that the taste is a combination of sour, sweet, bitter, hot, fragrant and salty; while the fragrances can be of fish, numb hot, sour hot, fried with hot red pepper or chili oil and other odd fragrances. Recommendation Restaurant: Hongxiang Restaurant in No. 289 Shuhan Road, Jinniu District, Chengdu city, Sichuan province Dishes: Tiaoshuitu--Diving rabbit, Shanyufensi--Stir-fried eel with bean noodles, Huiguorou--Spicy stir-fried pork. Gongbaojiding--Stir-fried sliced chicken with peanuts and chili, Fuqi Feipian--lungs from the cow. Suanni Bairou--Boiled chicken with garlic. Average price is 60 yuan per person

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