Chinese Food Culture Essay

Numerous cultures are scattered around the world today, and among one of the oldest cultures is the Chinese culture. China has a known history of over 4000 years and has been through more than 15 dynasties. Due to its broad history and an isolated natural geography, it has accumulated a rich culture with its own unique characteristics different from others. Among its culture, food takes a huge part of it. Going through the history, Chinese food has evolved from basic cooking to a very complex part of the Chinese culture. (Chinese History, 2005)

China covers a vast area of land, and although there are many similarities among those people who live on it, different regional cultures still have their own characteristics. We will first divide China into four main areas: Beijing (North), Canton (South), Shanghai (East), and Szechuan (West). Later, we will further divide it into 8 regions for a more detailed view of the Chinese food culture. (Parkinson)

In the northern China, people eat flour products made from wheat as their main source of food due greatly to their local culture. They do so because their harsh weather condition doesn't allow rice to be grown. The winters are freezing cold, and summers are hot and very dry. That forced them to grow the easier grown food, wheat, which

Food continues taking a great part for Chinese people's life and is a symbol for Chinese culture. Nowadays, Chinese people might be losing the old traditional values or had forgotten the meaning of the festivals, but through eating Chinese cuisine, you can search back the values and it can remind you of the festivals. Although many regions are isolated by natural barriers and therefore developed unique cuisines, they are all still sharing a characteristic in that they are made by Chinese people with all their