There is no denying that China is a delightful tourist destination, rich in culture, heritage and home to some phenomenal food. Chinese cuisine is famous all over the world thanks to the fantastic colour, flavours, aroma, presentation, and of course, the fascinating significance attached to certain dishes. China, being a large country, features certain variations in its cuisine depending on the location. For instance, Hunan cuisine, Sichuan cuisine and Guiyang cuisine have certain similarities and differences due to their locations. If we take Guiyang as an example, you can sample the authentic local flavours at a luxury establishment such as the Anantara Guiyang Resort or even at one of the many inexpensive Guiyang restaurants at a popular food street.

 

China’s food symbolism comes from traditional beliefs, legends and superstitions. Some Chinese dishes, especially those associated with festivals, are known to have special meanings and even certain powers. These fascinating elements are presented through their shape, colour and names. Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival is the most popular and important festival in the country. The food associated with this festival includes ‘Candy’ which symbolise a rich life, ‘Dumplings’ which symbolise wealth with their traditional ingot shape and ‘Year Cake’ which symbolise increasing prosperity. The second most important traditional festival in China, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also features several symbolic dishes. The most popular dishes associated with this festival, Pomeloes and Mooncakes are both round in shape and symbolise abundance and family unity, respectively.

 

In addition to festival food, the Chinese are also known to eat symbolic foods during various special occasions such as birthdays, weddings and the birth of babies. If you attend a Chinese birthday celebration, you are likely to see peaches and noodles on the dining table. The shape of noodles is believed to represent a long life and cutting them is considered to bring bad luck. Peaches are also a symbol of longevity. Eggs symbolise fertility in Chinese cuisine. New parents announce the birth of their child by offering red boiled eggs to their friends and family. Lobster and chicken are commonly served at Chinese weddings as a symbolism of a good marriage.

 

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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