Chinese cuisine is known for its taste and philosophical and aesthetic qualities. Chinese cuisine devotes meticulous attention to the color, smell, taste, shape, sound and vessel of food. “Sound” refers to the crispiness of food. “Vessel” refers to different kinds of containers, such as porcelain, pottery and silverware, for different tables and dishes. 

             According to recent calculations, there are over 5,000 famous dishes (prepared by noted chefs, recorded in history, possessing a reputation, home-made dishes are not included) on the Chinese menu. 

             Chinese food can be classified into six categories:

1. Local dishes: A class of dishes with very strong local flavors that came into existence in line with local produce, climate and customs.
2. Royal dishes: These used to be prepared by the Imperial Kitchen for emperors and empresses. Usually, they are fancifully named and exquisitely prepared with the best ingredients.
3. Family dishes: These used to be reserved for high-ranking bureaucrats and celebrities, but they were subsequently adopted by ordinary people such as “Dongpo Pork”
4. Ethnic food: These originated in minority-inhabited areas, and became popular nationwide.
5. Vegetarian food: Because most monks eat vegetarian food, it is also known as “monastery dishes.” There are a wide variety of flavors. These dishes are often cooked in such as way as to look and taste exactly like meat and fish.
6. Medicinal dishes, or food therapy: The Chinese believe that mixing tonics with food adds flavor to food and is good health.

            The late Chairman Mao once remarked that China’s greatest contributions to the worlds are traditional Chinese medicines and Chinese food. To testify to the popularity of Chinese food, a piece of Western humor has it that “the happiest man in the world is one who earns an American salary, lives in an English house, is married to a Japanese woman and eats Chinese food.

            Characteristics:

1. Vegetables are the main ingredients. This explains why most Chinese women are slim and men free of cardiovascular disease.
2. The Chinese people like well-prepared food. Zealous about food absorption and digestion, they are scrupulous about the temperature while cooking. Undercooked food is unacceptable.
3. Chinese like to eat together, a tradition which can be traced back a long time ago. It reflects the Chinese notion of union versus division – round table, round dishes, and round bowls all symbolize union and perfection.
4. ishes are usually placed at the center of the table so that everyone can reach them and share. A hot pot, in particular, in put in the middle of the table especially in winter, adding to the atmosphere of harmony and union and play the function of warming up.

            There are tables manners and status associated with food. 

            Tap water: Tap water in China is disinfected and specially treated. But usually tap water is not drinkable.