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In addition to the eight major Chinese cuisines, i.e., Anhui, Canton, Fujian,
Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan and Zhejiang, many regions and most
of the minority residing areas in China also have their own particular cuisines,
among which the delicate Shanghai, Huaiyang, Chaozhou cuisines, the unconstrained
Shaanxi, Shanxi and Dongbei cuisines as well as the exotic Moslem and Uygur
cuisines are most notable. In Beijing, it is very easily to find the specialty
restaurants serving the authentic food in different Chinese cuisines. Having
been developed throughout the history, each of these cuisines has its unique
regional flavor, from preparation process to material selection.
Anhui Cuisine, commonly known as Hui cai, or Wan cai, is a label
given to the dishes developed in Anhui Province.
Cantonese Cuisine, a well-known cuisine in the Western countries, was
originated in Guangdong Province.
Fujian Cuisine, or Min cai, was developed in Fujian Province,
which uses seafood as primary material and a wide range of seasonings as
flavor additions.
Hunan Cuisine, also being called Xiang Cai, is known for being as hot
as Sichuan Cuisine. However, the dishes of Hunan cuisine have totally different
spicy tastes from any other cuisines.
Jiangsu Cuisine, also known as Su cai, was originated in the Northern
and Southern Dynasties (386-589) in the Jiangsu provincial area and is now
popular all around China, featuring sweet flavors.
Shandong Cuisine, also known as Lu cai, is a combined term for Jiaozhou
cuisine that includes mainly costal seafood, and Jinan cuisine that was
originated in inland Kongfu area, tasting somewhat salty.
Sichuan Cuisine: also known as Chuan cai, is another popular cuisine
in the western world, featuring intensive use of hot peppers and strong
seasonings. Very hot and spicy in taste.
Zhejiang Cuisine, also known as Zhe cai, is composed of the traditional
dishes developed in Hangzhou, Ningbo and Shaoxing, featuring a long history
of more than 2,000 years.
Chaozhou Cuisine is one of the three branches in Guangdong Cuisine,
featuring light and fresh flavors.
Dongbei Cuisine, is a great style of food for enjoying in winter, featuring
large quantities of meat in thick, fairly salty sauces and heavily, and
heavy usage of potatoes.
Huaiyang Cuisine, is a famous cuisine in the Middle and Lower reaches
of the Yangtze River, once being honored as the "noble dishes" of
China.
Shaanxi Cuisine has a history of over 5,000 years and is considered
as the most ancient cuisine in China, featuring wheat flours as the core
material.
Shanghai Cuisine, also known as Shanghai Cai or Ben Bang Cai, was originally
derived from some homely dishes, featuring sweet tastes, simple styles and
convenience in preparation.
Shanxi Cuisine is famous for its noodle preparations. No other Chinese
cuisine pays as much attention to staple food as Shanxi Cuisine which is
excel at making noodles.
Islamic Cuisine, also known as Muslim Cuisine or Hui cai, is characterized
by its fresh yet strong flavor. The most famous dish of the cuisine is called
"whole lamb banquet".
Uygur Cuisine is represented by lamb shish kebob that are being everywhere
in the city. The Uygur cuisine has very persistent and consistent flavors
and tastes.
Cuisines of Other Ethnic Groups. Each of fifty five ethnic minorities
in China has their own special cuisine inherited from the ancestors. These
cuisines are quickly spreading around and accepted by people in the different
regions.
Hot Pot is one of the favored dining styles in Beijing, particularly
during the winter time. There are virtually uncountable restaurants in Beijing
that serve the hot pots.
Seafood, a term with rather broad sense, has gradually become a specific
cuisine in China. It was originated in the east and south parts of China,
but shortly became popular nationwide.
Special Flavor: There have been several special type of restaurants
enveloped in Beijing to accommodate the dining needs for people who are
seeking the romantic atmosphere.
Other Restaurants. Listed under this section are the restaurants serving
Chinese food in the unconventional ways.
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restaurants available, dining choices in Beijing are practically unlimited.
After a busy schedule of business meetings or a long day tour of the city,
the travelers can either enjoy the luxuries at an upper class restaurant
or dine cost-effectively at the smaller family-run facilities located
all over the city. We have put together a list of uniquely featured restaurants
in Beijing, based on our broad dining experiences, in an attempt to help
the tourists to quickly located the right dining places.
