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Anhui cuisine is known in China as, gasp, one of the eight most famous cuisines in the
country. These accolades, that so frequently appear in descriptions of any of China"s
cultural specialties, do not make themselves abundantly clear in the province, where
really special food is not overly easy to find. Most of Anhui"s best cuisine can be found in the capital, Hefei, where a good feast
will usually feature both fresh water crabs and the fiery Gujing wine. Popular here are
dishes that have a historical background, including the healthy, herbal Caocao Chicken and the intriguing
variety of ingredients in a Li
Hongzhang Hotchpotch. Vegetarians will be pleased with the cuisine of one of China"s four sacred Buddhist
mountains, Jiuhuashan.
Bamboo shoots and exotic mushrooms are the staple ingredients here, although with
increasing tourism this is gradually changing, with appearances by game and livestock
making their way onto many restaurant tables. The most famous of the mountains in Anhui,
Huangshan, is surprisingly one of
the worst for food, especially for those on a budget. Almost all dining on the mountain is
done in the hotels, and will be of steep prices and mediocre quality. |
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