Like the huge range of awe-inspiring landscapes that lies within its vast boundaries, China is also home to an incredible diversity of people. The Han are the dominant force here, but more than 50 ethnic groups call China home and the range of traditions, customs, languages and general way of life can leave visitors dewy-eyed.
But despite all their differences, there’s one thing that binds all Chinese people together more than anything else: their passion for food. In fact, meal times are so important here that when Chinese people greet each other they don’t say: ‘How are you?’ They say: ‘Have you eaten yet?’
For the traveller this means a trip across China is a journey through the most staggering assortment of lovingly prepared culinary delights imaginable; a taste sensation never to be forgotten.
A dish fit for a king
Peking Duck is the king of all China’s dishes. Invented inside the palace walls of Beijing’s Forbidden City, it was a dish initially served only to royalty. In fact, it wasn’t until an emperor’s retired chef decided to open up a public restaurant that the secret recipe escaped, and ordinary folk were able to sample its regal delights. Peking Duck is similar to the crispy duck and pancakes you find on menus in the West, only more care is taken to keep the duck meat from turning dry, resulting in a far juicier and more flavoursome dish. These days roast duck remains relatively exclusive thanks to its hefty price tag, but Beijing’s laobaixing (common people) needn’t worry; the capital’s streets have a wealth of affordable grub too.
Eat a bug!
Snack stalls and markets abound, and are perfect for grabbing a quick bite. And it’s at these pavement stalls where you can sample some of China’s weirdest culinary creations. Head down to Donghuamen Night Market near Wangfujing shopping street, for example, and you’ll be able to nibble on delicacies such as sheep-innards broth or barbecued scorpions. If you ask nicely enough, the guys that barbecue the scorpions will even let you eat them live!
Like it spicy?
If you like your food with a bit of a bite to it, head southwest from Beijing to arrive at the provinces of Sichuan and Chongqing, home to some of the spiciest dishes on the planet. Chillis are used in abundance here along with the unique Sichuan pepper, a mouth-numbing red peppercorn. The signature dish in these parts is hotpot, a super-spicy boiling broth into which fresh raw ingredients are dipped until they are cooked through; a fondue with fire!
Braise you
Just east from here is Hunan province, the birthplace of Mao Zedong and home to his favourite dish, hongshao rou (braised pork belly). If you thought the Peking Duck was succulent, wait til you try this one. Only the fattiest, juiciest pieces of pork belly are used and they’re marinated in caramelised sugar before being cooked very slowly, allowing time for the meat to suck up all the flavours. It’s too fatty for some western tastes but it’s a dish that is undeniably delicious.
Dog meat and beer fish
Further south is Guangxi province, famous not only for its stunning, otherworldly limestone peaks, but also for the dog-meat hotpot that’s still served in some of its restaurants. If that doesn’t sit too well with your morals then try beer fish, a mouth-watering speciality of the village of Yangshuo, but found all over the region.
From Russia with love
Southerners mock the northern Chinese for their unrefined dining tastes, but meat eaters will love a foray into Inner Mongolia or the Muslim-dominated northwestern province of Xinjiang, where lamb dominates menus. In fact, so tasty are the lamb kebabs from Xinjiang province that you’ll find them on pretty much every street corner of every city in China.
The north is also where you’ll find some Russian influence. Harbin, a city which freezes over in winter, and which holds the magical Ice-lantern Festival every January, is where quick-fried spices make way for slow-cooked stews and where it’s easy to find imported vodka with which to wash down spoonfuls of quality caviar.
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