A Bite of Changde

Changde boasts a well-developed food culture. Whether it is the uniquely flavored Changde dishes or the local snacks, visitors will find themselves reluctant to leave. As you stroll through the streets and alleys of Changde, you will see restaurants and snack shops with all kinds of signs everywhere.

Changde cuisine belongs to the Hunan school, one of China's eight great culinary traditions. Compared with other cuisines, Changde dishes have their own distinct characteristics: they are rich in flavor and place great emphasis on the selection of ingredients. Typically, they use local specialty products from Changde, which yields a fresher and more delicious taste. Spiciness is a major feature of Changde cuisine, so ginger, garlic, and chili peppers are often chosen as seasonings.  A popular saying captures this perfectly, "Ginger stings the tongue, garlic stings the stomach，but chili stings so fiercely —you can't speak anymore."

People in Changde love hot pot, so Changde hot pot is also very famous. In Changde, whether at a grand banquet or a casual gathering of friends, whether in the freezing cold of winter or under the scorching summer sun, you will always find two or three hot pots on the dining table. Everyone sits around, eating steaming hot pot and drinking delicious beer—it is pure enjoyment. Although Changde hot pot is not as widely known as some others, it tastes excellent and has its own unique features compared to Chongqing hot pot. Chongqing hot pot is pungent and spicy, while Changde hot pot emphasizes variety. There are light versions like fish head hot pot and green vegetable hot pot, as well as savory ones like beer duck hot pot and beef hot pot. Every time you eat hot pot, you first have a few pieces of the main ingredients, then mix a little bit of the oily broth with rice—it is absolutely a delicacy beyond compare.

When you come to Changde, you must try Changde rice noodles. For the people of Changde, eating rice noodles is a way of experiencing history and culture. The tradition dates back to the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, when people could only enjoy rice noodles during festivals and holidays. Today, rice noodles have become an indispensable food for Changde locals. The noodles are thin and long, resembling dragon whiskers, symbolizing happiness and good fortune. Simply blanch the rice noodles in boiling water, then top them with a variety of carefully prepared toppings. A bowl of delicious Changde rice noodles is then ready before you.

Walking on the streets of Changde, you will find that besides rice noodle shops, there are also many stores selling sauce‑braised duck. Indeed, Changde's sauce‑braised series is another local specialty. It is said that sauce‑braised duck first came to Hunan from Thailand and then to Changde. The people of Changde, building on the essence of the original technique and adapting it to local tastes, have introduced a range of products such as sauce‑braised tofu, sauce‑braised snake, and sauce‑braised young soybeans. Soaked in a specially prepared marinade, the sauce‑braised series leave a taste that you will never forget.

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn