Zhejiang cuisine, alternatively known as Zhe cuisine, is one of the Eight Culinary Traditions of

Chinese cuisine Chinese cuisine encompasses the numerous cuisines originating from China, as well as overseas cuisines created by the Chinese diaspora. Because of the Chinese diaspora and historical power of the country, Chinese cuisine has influenced many ot ...

. Zhejiang cuisine contains four different styles,

Hangzhou Hangzhou ( or , ; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), also romanized as Hangchow, is the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang, China. It is located in the northwestern part of the province, sitting at the head of Hangzhou Bay, whi ...

, Shaoxing,

Ningbo Ningbo (; Ningbonese: ''gnin² poq⁷'' , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), formerly romanized as Ningpo, is a major sub-provincial city in northeast Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. It comprises 6 urban districts, 2 sate ...

, and

Wenzhou Wenzhou (pronounced ; Wenzhounese: Yuziou �y33–11 tɕiɤu33–32 ), historically known as Wenchow is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Zhejiang province in the People's Republic of China. Wenzhou is located at the extreme south east o ...

(also known as Ou cuisine). It derives from the traditional ways of cooking in

Zhejiang Province Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiangs ...

, which is located south of

Shanghai Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flow ...

and centred around

, a historical Chinese capital. In general, Zhejiang cuisine is not greasy but has a fresh and soft flavour with a mellow fragrance.

Styles

Zhejiang cuisine consists of at least three styles, each originating from a major city in the

province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''Roman province, provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire ...

: *

style: Characterised by rich variations and the use of bamboo shoots. It is served in restaurants such as the

Dragon Well Manor Dragon Well Manor (龙井草堂, pinyin ''Lóngjǐng Cǎotáng'') is a restaurant in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China preparing and serving food based on the ideals of sustainable slow food, serving seasonal produce sourced from local purveyors. ...

. * Shaoxing style: Specialising in poultry and freshwater fish. *

style: Specialising in seafood, with emphasis on freshness and salty dishes. Some sources also include the

style (Ou cuisine) as a separate subdivision due to its proximity to

Fujian Province Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its cap ...

. Wenzhou style is characterised as the greatest source of seafood as well as poultry and livestock.

Notable dishes

Ningbo cuisine is regarded as rather salty. Ningbo confectioneries were celebrated all over China during the

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...

References

{{Authority control Regional cuisines of China Zhejiang