8 Major Cuisines

Chinese cuisine is world famous and it has a long history over 1000 years. As the vast land and the huge population, Chinese cuisines had developed to 8 major cuisines with the time went on. They are Shandong cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Guangdong cuisine, Jiangsu cuisine, Zhejiang cuisine, Anhui cuisine, Hunan cuisine and Fujian cuisine. Shandong cuisine can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770-221BC). It was quickly developed in the South and North Dynasty (960-1279), and was recognized as an important style of cooking in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Shangdong cuisine is representative of northern China's cooking and its technique has been widely absorbed in northeast China and it influenced the Beijing cuisine a lot. The typical dishes on local menu are braised abalone, braised trepang, sweet and sour carp, Jiuzhuan Dachang and Dezhou Chicken. Sichuan cuisine is Strong in spiciness and flavor, particularly the pungency and spiciness resulting from liberal use of garlic and chili peppers. The typical dishes on local menu are Diced Chicken with Dried Chili, Tea Smoked Duck, Twice Cooked Pork, MaPo DouFu, SiChuan Hot Pot, Fuqi Feipian.

Guangdong cuisine is also called Cantonese cuisine and well known in Guangzhou, chao zhou and dong jiang. The characteristics of the Guangdong cuisine is Bland, Cripsy, Sweet, Freshness. The typical dishes on local menu are Steamed goose, Cold crab, Fun Goh, Shrimp balls. Jiangsu cuisine consists of the styles of Yangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou and Zhenjiang dishes. It is very famous all over the world for its distinctive style and taste. It is especially popular in the lower reach of the Yangtze River. The typical dishes on local menu are Jinling salted dried duck, crystal meat, clear crab shell meatballs, Yangzhou steamed Jerky strips, triple combo duck, dried duck, and Farewell My Concubine. Zhejiang is traditionally known as the "Land of Fish and Rice", which the dishes are not greasy, having but instead a fresh, soft flavor with a mellow fragrance. The famous dishes are West Lake Carp with vinegar, Beggar's Chicken, Sister-in-Law Song's Thick Fish Soup, Su Dongpo's Pork, Quick-fried prawn crackers.

Anhui cuisine is developed at Huangshan region and the characteristicis that control of the cooking fire, emphasises on the use of oil , and the colour combination of the dishes, famed for wild game and fish dishes. The famous dishes are braised Masked Civet, pheasant braised in snow vegetables, stewed Mandarin Fish. Hunan cuisine is some kind of similarity to Sichuan cuisine, which they are both spicy. The famous dishes are Shark fin in soya sauce, spicy chicken , steamed soft-shelled turtle, meat steamed and cured. Fujian cuisine is light, fresh, sweet, sour, salty, fragrant,comes in beautiful colors. The famous dishes are Buddha Jumps Over The Wall, Snowflake Chicken, Fried Taiji Prawns, Pork in Lychees.