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Dining In Chengdu

Chengdu is a city which reflects the Chinese affinity for eating. With more than 2,000 super chefs, 70,000 households and 600,000 people working in its catering industry, Chengdu ranks as the 4th largest city in retail culinary volume within China. Chengdu was named City of Gastronomy by UNESCO; Chengdu is the first of its kind in Asia.
 
With its long list of culinary credentials, Chengdu can be overwhelming for residents and tourists alike. Here's our dining guide to Chengdu and it is divided into three categories: Sichuan Cuisine, Hot Pot and Snack.
 
Sichuan cuisine and snacks
 
As one of China’s eight major cuisines, Sichuan cuisine covers a great variety of styles and is best known for its spicy and hot flavors. For example, sweet and sour, home-style dishes, kung pao, boiled fish and sliced meat--all have their own styles and are extremely popular with diners across the country. Sichuan people love food, they know how to enjoy it, and most importantly they have a great appetite. There are numerous restaurants, and the authentic Sichuan cuisine and snacks are perhaps the main enticement for tourists. They can choose from many culinary delights, including hotpot and malatang (chuanchuanxiang), and can have their desire for food satisfied and get a glimpse into the Sichuan way of life.
 
Recommended Sichuan cuisine dishes: Mapo tofu, pork lungs in chili sauce, Shuangliu rabbit heads
 
Recommended snacks: Guokui, Dandan noodles, Zhong dumplings, Benben Chicken
 
Hot Pot
 
The hotpot is Sichuan’s most characteristic cuisine and represents the best of the province’s delicacies. There is a wide variety of hotpot types, mainly including maodu (beef), huanghou (beef and pork), duck, huangmenyu (fish), fish heads, konjak and duck, and barracuda. Malatang, or chuanchuanxiang, is a variation of hotpot and is now extremely popular across the country. 
 
"You haven't been to Chengdu until you've tried the Hot Pot." That's how people describe the popularity of Hot Pot in Chengdu - the Chinese steamboat served with hot and spicy soup. This is probably the spiciest food in the city, but it might also be the best.
 
Huangcheng Laoma. Among the Hot Pot restaurants, Huangcheng Laoma is the most highly recommended one. In this luxury restaurant, you can taste old-fashioned style Hot Pot while enjoying the Sichuan opera. Location: No.20, Qintai Road, Chengdu.
 
Shizilou Hot Pot Restaurant. Shizilou is by far the largest Hot Pot restaurant and it is also one of the top 500 private restaurants in China. Specialized in Yuanyang Hot Pot, an old-fashioned type, Shizilou has received numerous national awards for its delicious dishes and luxurious facilities. Location: No. 2, Wannianchang Road, Chenghua District.
 
Recommended Hotpot Restaurants:
Chongqing Kongliang Shanyu Hotpot: 368-6 Qingjiang Road East
Yulong Hotpot: 7 Yushuang Road 
Huangcheng Laoma Hot Pot: 106 Qintai Road
 
One final tip to tourists: Chengdu is famous in China as the city where the prettiest girls are born. So while you're smelling the spicy flavor in every corner of the city you'll likely be overwhelmed by the beautiful women who serve you your meals within this great city.

 

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