Chinese food culture boasts a rich and captivating history, making it one of the most diverse and intricate culinary traditions in the world. For those visiting China, understanding the essence of Chinese cuisine will not only elevate your dining experience but also help you better immerse yourself in the local culture and social dynamics.
With China's recent visa-free policies in place for citizens of select countries, more international visitors now have the opportunity to come and experience authentic Chinese food like never before.Hills will introduce you to the key aspects of Chinese food culture, highlighting its unique characteristics and contrasting it with Western food traditions, ensuring you have a deeper appreciation for the irresistible charm of Chinese gastronomy.
1. Diversity of ingredients and regional differences
China is a vast country with a wide range of natural environments, climatic conditions and differences in eating habits, resulting in an extremely rich selection of ingredients and diverse culinary flavors.
Ingredients from all over the world: China has a wide variety of ingredients, from common rice, noodles and vegetables to a wide range of meats, seafood and soy products, and Chinese people choose the most suitable ingredients according to the seasons and regions.
Distinctive regional characteristics: China's dietary differences can be seen in its four major cuisines, eight major cuisines and even more local dishes. For example, Sichuan cuisine emphasizes on spicy and numbing, Guangdong cuisine focuses on lightness, Jiangsu and Zhejiang cuisine is famous for freshness, and noodle-based food is the mainstay in the north, while rice-based food is the mainstay in the south.
Here are some classic dishes that represent the unique flavors of each region:
Sichuan (Chongqing):
Mapo Tofu
Hotpot
Guangdong (Cantonese):
Dim Sum
Roast Duck
Jiangsu and Zhejiang (East China):
Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish
Longjing Shrimp
Northern China:
Peking Duck
Dumplin
2. Diverse cooking methods
Chinese cooking techniques have developed over thousands of years, resulting in a wide variety of cooking methods, each reflecting respect for the essence of the ingredients and the pursuit of flavor levels.
Stir-fry: Stir-fry is the most common way of cooking in China. By stir-frying at high temperatures, the freshness and flavor of the ingredients are preserved to the fullest extent. Classic stir-fry dishes such as “Kung Pao Chicken” and “Pork in Hot Pot” demonstrate this technique.
Steaming: Steamed dishes emphasize the original flavor of the ingredients and are especially suitable for seafood and fish. For example, “steamed hairy crab” is steamed to keep the crab meat at its most flavorful.
Boiling: Cooking vegetables or soups is an integral part of Chinese food culture, and soups are particularly important, as the Chinese like to make the most of the nutrients in their ingredients during the cooking process.
Stewing: Stewed dishes are cooked slowly at low temperatures to maximize the flavor and nutrients of the ingredients, such as “Stewed Spare Ribs Soup” or “Stewed Chicken with Fish Maw”.
3. Layers of flavors and the use of seasonings
One of the characteristics of Chinese cuisine is the rich layering of flavors, which emphasizes the harmonious blend of salty, sweet, sour, spicy, bitter and fresh flavors. Seasonings are used with great care, not only to add flavor to the food, but also to bring health benefits.
Common condiments: Soy sauce, vinegar, peppercorns, chili peppers, garlic, ginger, spices and other common condiments play an important role in Chinese cuisine. Each region has its own characteristics in the use of condiments, such as peppercorns and chili peppers in Szechuan cuisine and soy sauce and bean paste in Cantonese cuisine.
Combination of Ingredients and Seasoning: Chinese cooking is all about the harmonious combination of ingredients and seasoning. Different cuisines will choose the right seasoning according to the characteristics of the ingredients to enhance the natural flavor of the food.
4. Socializing and sharing dining culture
Sharing meals: Unlike the Western system of sharing meals, the Chinese table is commonly shared, with multiple dishes placed in the center of the table and shared by everyone. This is part of the Chinese cultural concept of “community” and “harmony”, and sharing food with others is also a way of expressing friendship and intimacy in China.
Toasting and Etiquette: Toasting is an important social etiquette in many formal occasions. At the dinner table, the elders or hosts usually make the first toast, and the others make theirs in return. Special attention should be paid to etiquette when drinking, and try not to leave the glass empty.
Shanghai Local Cuisine: Classic and Innovative at the Same Time
Shanghai Local Cuisine (also known as “Shanghainese Cuisine”) is the traditional local cuisine of Shanghai, which is characterized by its lightness, freshness, and focus on the original flavor of the ingredients. The food culture of Shanghai is deeply influenced by the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River, and combines local history, geographical conditions and multi-cultural elements to form a unique style that is both refined and balanced in flavor, as well as novel and modern.
A Delicate Balance of Sweet and Savory Flavors
Shanghai cuisine has a unique taste that often blends sweet and savory flavors, emphasizing the balance between the natural flavors of the ingredients and the seasoning. Shanghainese like to use sugar, soy sauce, vinegar and other condiments to cook their dishes, and many classic dishes have a distinct combination of sweet and salty flavors.
-Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs: Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs is a very common dish on the Shanghainese table. Through the combination of sugar and vinegar, the sweetness in the sourness, coupled with the freshness of the soy sauce, creates a delicious dish with excellent color and flavor.
-Oil Blasted Shrimp: This dish combines sweet and salty, with tender shrimp meat and rich sauce that is aromatic and flavorful.
Beyond that, Shanghai's nightlife combines the glamor of heights with the charm of seclusion and intimacy. Rooftop bars on top of skyscrapers offer stunning views of illuminated landmarks, while speakeasies tucked away in quiet alleys serve up inventive cocktails in cozy surroundings that reflect the city's perfect blend of old-world sophistication and modern innovation. No matter what kind of nightlife you're after, Shanghai's bars have it all!