China is an enormous and multifaceted country, so it makes sense its cuisine is anything but one-note. As you travel through the country, you’ll experience changes in spice level, ingredients and cooking methods.
Chinese cuisine is typically divided into eight distinct canonical regions:
- Cantonese, or Guangdong cuisine, which favors sweeter sauces and braising
- Sichuan, or Chuan cuisine, which is a spicy punch to the face and heavy on garlic, ginger and peanuts
- Shangdong, or Lu cuisine, which utilizes braising, is heavy on seafood and liberal with salt
- Fujian, or Min cuisine, which is lighter in body and balanced in its use of sweet and sour flavors; Fujian incorporates ingredients from both the sea and the mountains
- Jiangsu, or Su cuisine, which is heavy on soups that feature fresh ingredients heavily, and balance salty and sweet flavors
- Hunan, or Xiang cuisine, which is also high in spice; cooking methods include sautéing, stir frying, steaming and smoking
- Anhui, or Hui cuisine, which specializes in the use of wild plants and animals and utilizes stewing and lots of oil
- Zhejiang, or Zhe cuisine, which includes seafood and bamboo shoots often, in a wide variety of preparations
To learn more about these regions and their traditions, visit The World of Chinese blog and China Highlights.
Read This Next
Street Food Delicacies
Food & Drink
Sep 22, 2014All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All
#TrazeeTravel
Insta FeedSlideshow
Apr 16, 20245 Must-See Sites in Montpelier, Vermont
It’s time to start dreaming of your next trip. Here are five must-see sites in Montpelier, Vermont.
Sponsored Content
Interior Upgrades Begin Rolling Out Across United Fleet
United Airlines is in the midst of a major initiative to modernize its fleet over the next several years. After first announcing the plan in 2021, planes fitted with United’s signature interior are finally beginning to appear across the airline’s narrowbody fleet of Boeing and Airbus planes. United flyers are sure to notice these enhancements from the moment they step on board: Each new or updated plane sports remodeled seats, seatback entertainment screens for everyone, Bluetooth connectivity and more, all adding up to a better experience on every journey.
Food & Drink
Apr 16, 2024Don’t Miss All-New Jax Coffee & Donuts Trail in Jacksonville, Florida
Did you know Jacksonville, Florida, is home to the last remaining Maxwell House plant in the country? Or how about the fact the city is home to a thriving coffee and donuts scene? The all-new Jax Coffee & Donuts Trail highlights the many local coffee and donut shops in Jacksonville, showcasing more than 30 across the city.
Destinations / North America
Apr 15, 2024How to Make Your Visit to the Grand Canyon Greener
If you’re aiming to make your overall travel a little greener in the future, and you’re also traveling to the Grand Canyon soon, you’ll want to pick your transportation and lodging options carefully. Two offerings from Xanterra can help.
Sponsored Content
Experience Ireland’s
Wild Atlantic Way
From the windy tip of Malin Head in County Donegal to the colorful harbor town of Kinsale in County Cork, Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way amazes at every turn. Feel the blast of fresh sea air with a lighthouse walk. Get up close to history, grab a fireside seat at a traditional music session, experience the world-famous Irish hospitality and explore some of Ireland's most exhilarating coastal scenery. It is a place that inspired dreamers and travelers, poets and painters with a landscape filled with stone walls, thatched cottages, deserted beaches and breathtaking views. Charming towns and villages, 1,500 miles of soaring cliffs, incredible landscapes and unique experiences await.
Destinations / Europe
Apr 15, 2024Get the Royal Treatment at Hohenschwangau Castle, Germany
Don’t miss out on touring Hohenschwangau Castle during your next trip to Bavaria.
ShareThis