Chinese Regional Cuisine

China can be divided into many geographical areas, and each area has a distinct style of cooking. The ingredients used in the Chinese food are based on the natural agricultural products of the region. In N orthern China, for example, wheat is eaten more than rice as staple food. Food using wheat as its main ingredient, such as noodles and dumplings is prevalent there. Compared to the rather monotonous fare of the North, China's southern cuisine is notable for its exceptional tastiness and its great variety. Most of the famous Chinese dishes served in international capitals, i.e., what is considered "Chinese Cuisine" abroad, belong, in fact, to the cuisine tradition of S outhern China. As for vegetables, cabbage is ubiquitous, served at almost every restaurant.
1. Lu Cuisine
Lu Cuisine, also called Shandong Cuisine, is originated from the native cooking styles of East China’s Shandong Province. Its history can date back to Qin Dynasty (221 BC to 207 BC). It has become one of China’s eight cuisines since Song Dynasty (960 AD to 1234 AD). It is the most prevalent distinct regional cuisine in China, popular through out Beijing, Tianjin and Northeast China.
2. Chuan Cuisine
Chuan Cuisine is the most popular cuisine in all of China, defined in terms of the breadth and depth of where it is served. Of course it helps the depth parameter that the neighboring population-dense municipality of Chongqing, formerly a part of Sichuan Province, is one of the areas outside present-day Sichuan Province most enamored of Chuan Cuisine.
3. Cantoneese Cuisine
Cantonese Cuisine, also known as Yue Cuisine, is the culinary style of Guangdong Province, which was called Canton when the Wade-Giles romanization of Chinese was in use. This particular type of Chinese food has been popularized by Chinese restaurants around the world as the majority of those who set up these restaurants were of Cantonese origin.
4. Min Cuisine
Min Cuisine, also called Fujian Cuisine, originates from South China’s Fujian Province. The history of Min Cuisine dates back to 5000 years ago. It consists of three styles, namely Fuzhou style, which is usually tastes light compared with other styles, often with a mixed sweet and sour taste; Western Fujian style, featuring slightly spicy flavoring from mustard and pepper; and Southern Fujian style, which usually tastes spicy and sweet.
5. Su Cuisine
Jiangsu Cuisine, called Su Cuisine for short, originates from the native cooking styles of South China’s Jiangsu Province. It has a fresh taste, with moderate saltiness and sweetness, which is thick without being greasy, and light without being thin. Meanwhile it places an emphasis on the making of soup and retaining the original taste of the ingredients. Once it was the second largest cuisine among ancient China’s royal cuisines, and it remains a major part of the state banquet in China.  
6. Xiang Cuisine
Hunan cuisine, also called Xiang cuisine, stems from a province that has an age-old reputation as a 'land of fish and rice'. Hunan Province has always been a cornucopia as far as foodstuffs go. The salient features of Hunan cuisine are richness, creaminess, and moistness, combined with a delicate use of chili. Hunan cuisine is also fragrant, with crunchy fresh vegetables that are cooked "al dente".
7. Hui Cuisine
Hui Cuisine is also called Anhui Cuisine or Wan Cuisine. It is one of the eight famous cuisines of China, derived from North China’s Anhui Province. Anhui Cuisine mainly consists of three styles representing three regions: Yangtze River region, Huai River region, and Southern Anhui region. Among them the South Anhui style is the most notable. The birthplace of South Anhui style is She County, located at a world famous tourist destination, Huangshan (the Yellow Mountains).
8. Zhejiang Cuisine
Zhejiang cuisine, called Zhe cuisine for short, is originated from South China’s Zhejiang Province. It is famous for its mellow, yet not greasy, taste.

Above are the eight regonal cuisines of China. They are the representatives of Chinese food and culture of China.

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