China has an ancient civilization and a long history of food culture. The following characteristics can be summarized in food culture:

Variety of flavors

Because of the vast territory and abundant resources in China, there are differences in climate, products, customs and habits, and many flavors have been formed in food for a long time. China has always had the saying that "south rice is north", and its tastes are divided into "sweet in the south, salty in the north, sour in the east and spicy in the west", which are mainly Bashu, Qilu, Huaiyang, Guangdong and Fujian.

Four seasons are different

Eating according to seasons is another major feature of China cooking. Since ancient times, China has been seasoning and side dishes according to seasonal changes, with strong flavor in winter and light and cool in summer; Stew more in winter and freeze more in summer.

Pay attention to aesthetic feeling

China's cooking is not only exquisite in technology, but also has a tradition of paying attention to the aesthetic feeling of dishes, paying attention to the harmony of color, fragrance, taste, shape and container of food. There are many ways to express the aesthetic feeling of dishes. No matter whether it is a carrot or a cabbage heart, all kinds of shapes can be carved, which is unique and achieves the harmonious unity of color, fragrance, taste, shape and beauty, giving people a special enjoyment of high spiritual and material unity.

Pay attention to taste

China's cooking has paid attention to taste for a long time. It has strict requirements not only on the color, aroma and taste of snacks, but also on their naming, taste methods, rhythm during meals and entertainment. The name of China cuisine can be said to be superb, refined and popular. The names of dishes are not only named according to the realism of the main ingredients, auxiliary ingredients, seasonings and cooking methods, but also according to historical anecdotes, myths and legends, celebrities' food interests and dishes' images, such as "family portrait", "general crossing the bridge", "lion's head", "beggar chicken", "dragon and phoenix are auspicious", "Hongmen banquet" and "Dongpo meat".

The combination of food and medicine with China's cooking technology is closely related to medical care. Thousands of years ago, there was a homology between medicine and food. apos; Work with' medicated diet &; apos; It is said that the medicinal value of food raw materials can be used to make various delicious dishes to achieve the purpose of preventing and treating certain diseases.

The beauty of neutralization is the highest aesthetic ideal of China traditional culture. "If you are in the middle, you will be the foundation of the world; He who is in harmony is also the one who is in the world. To be neutral, the status of heaven is unknown, and everything is nurtured "(The Book of Rites, The Doctrine of the Mean). There is a famous sentence in "The Ancient Book of History", which means that to make a good soup, the key is to reconcile the two flavors of salty (salty) acid (plum), which is a metaphor for governing the country. In Zuo Zhuan, Yan Ying also talked with Qi Jinggong about what is "harmony", pointing out that "harmony" is not "sameness", and it is based on the coordination of different opinions. Therefore, China philosophers believe that all things in the world find their place in a state of "neutralization" for reproduction and development. This aesthetic ideal is based on the harmonious unity of individual and society, man and nature. This idea of realizing "the beauty of neutralization" through tuning was inspired and influenced by ancient cooking practice and theory, which in turn affected people's whole diet life, especially for ancient literati who pursued artistic life and artistic life.

Contrary to "neutralization", extremes are not considered authentic in cooking. Those foods that are "too salty, too spicy and too sour" will be sought after by some people with abnormal health, but in the long run, they are harmful to the health. The disadvantages of extremism in social life and political life are even more unspeakable.