I have tried Peking duck in many Chinese restaurants around the world, but, as you can imagine, none of them are as tasty and
uniquely delicious as the duck you will try when you travel to Beijing! I thoroughly suggest that when you arrive you ask your Beijing hotels to direct you to a local restaurant famous for its duck, or ‘kaoya’. It is considered one of China’s national dishes. When eating it you are experiencing Chinese culture at its best. On my first evening in Beijing I was taken to a Peking duck banquet and since then I have eaten the dish at least 4 times. I have only been here for 3 weeks! Chinese food in general is exquisite, but there is something special about this particular local delight.
Peking duck has been eaten by the Chinese since the Southern and Northern Dynasties and was always served in Imperial kitchens. It is not necessarily exclusive to Beijing, because it is served nationwide. For those who are not familiar with the dish, it is comprised of thin, crispy pieces of duck skin and pieces of duck meet. The dish is served to you sliced, upon which you take a few pieces of the meat and skin and place it in a very thing pancake. The meat is then accompanied with a few vegetables (cucumber or spring onions). Finally top it all off with a
dollop of hoi sin sauce, my favorite bit of the dish. Roll up the pancake and be prepared to be memorized by your first scrumptious bite.
The preparation of kaoya is rather peculiar. There are two stages of preparation. The first stage is the 
‘raising of the duck.’ The duck is raised for the first 45 days of its life in a particular manner. It is force fed 4 times a day for the next 15-20 days. Now, the duck is ready to be slaughtered and cooked in a hung or closed oven.
Another popular dish in Beijing is Zha Jiang Mian, thick wheet noodles topped with a mixture of ground pork, stir-fried with Zha Jiang. Zha Jiang is a salty soybean paste. Other dishes you should try in Beijing are the dumplings (jiaozi), hot and sour soup, mutton, and Beggar’s Chicken. If you are a vegetarian I would suggest trying the mustard cabbage and the Fuling pancake sandwich.
China has too many special dishes to leave your stomach more than satisfied, but my favorite has been the meals I have had in Beijing. So what are you waiting for? Book your flight with Air China and head over to experience this delicious culinary culture.
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