FOOD

How Did a Vegetarian Hub Become the Global Capital of Beef Hotpot?

While Chaoshan beef hotpot has gained global popularity in recent years, few people realize that beef wasn’t really a thing in eastern Guangdong until recently

FOOD

Spice It Up: Why Hunan Cuisine Is Conquering China

Known for its spicy, stir-fried dishes, Hunan cuisine has enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years, but not everyone is happy about it

FOOD

Hot and Spicy: How Malatang Conquered China

As a Gansu variety of “malatang” goes viral online, we delve into the history and appeal of one of China’s most ubiquitous dishes

FOOD

The Confused Origins of One of China’s Most Popular Dishes

How Anhui “banmian” spread across the nation and became associated with a city hundreds of kilometers away from its place of origin

FOOD

How a Tiny Flower Becomes the Scent of Autumn in China

From drinks and desserts to tourist sites, sweet osmanthus has been an autumn favorite for Chinese people for over 2,000 years

FOOD

Bones of Industry: Discover Shenyang’s Favorite Street Snack

A simple Dongbei dish symbolizes the rise, fall, and reinvention of a once-flourishing industrial heartland

FOOD

Noodle Nostalgia: How an Imported Rice Noodle Dish Became the Pride of a Hunan City

Despite coming to Hengyang only 30 years ago, “lufen” has already become a symbol of pride for the locals who grew up with it

FOOD

Acquired Tastes: Fishy Grass and Other Chinese Herbs and Spices

Discover the infamous ”fishy-taste-grass” and other peculiar Chinese herbs and spices

FOOD

You Slaw It Everywhere: How Chinese Cabbage Connects Generations

Discover how spicy cabbage connects people across space and time in old and new ways

FOOD

Mistaken Identity: The Chinese Cuisine with Misunderstood Origins

From Lanzhou lamian to Hangzhou xiaolongbao: Pack your compass and your cutlery as we carve up Chinese foods with mistaken place of origin