- Food as a key element in tourism
  - Importance in itinerary designing
  - Focus on eating in China
- Chinese food ingredients
  - Wide variety and range of ingredients
  - Based on regional agricultural products
  - Foreigners’ stereotype: “eat everything”
- Regional differences in Chinese cuisine
  - Northern China: salty, wheat-based
    - Noodles and dumplings common
  - Western China: hearty halal food
  - Central China: spicy with many seasonings
  - Eastern China: sweet and light flavors
  - Southern minority: sour and chili-heavy
- Eight culinary traditions of China
  - Sichuan and Hunan: hot and spicy
  - Anhui and Fujian: inclusion of wild goods
  - Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu: seafood, sweet and light
  - Shandong: fresh, salty, seafood-focused
- Key elements of Chinese cooking
  - Emphasis on color, aroma, and flavor
  - Food as an art form
- Differences between Chinese and Western eating
  - Communal vs. individual servings
  - Bite-sized pieces vs. large portions
  - Cooking methods for vegetables
    - Chinese: frying, stewing, boiling, steaming
    - Western: salads or boiled vegetables
  - Unique ingredients in Chinese cuisine
    - Winter melons, yams, tree fungi, lotus pods, etc.
  - Use of spices
    - Chinese: fresh or dried spices
    - Western: precise spices like powders and sauces
  - Order and serve procedures
    - Chinese: main dish, side dish, soup, staple food
    - Western: starter, main course, dessert
  - Table shapes and dining culture
    - Chinese: round tables, family sharing
    - Western: square or long tables, individual meals
  - Cooking methods
    - Chinese: steaming, stewing, salting, braising, quick frying
    - Western: boiling, frying, roasting, baking
  - Oils used in cooking
    - Chinese: animal or peanut oil
    - Western: butter, sunflower oil, olive oil
- Reasons for differences
  - Historical influences
  - Geographical factors
  - Cultural distinctions
  - People’s habits and preferences
- Conclusion
  - Appreciation of Chinese food culture
  - Preparing for foreign visitors
  - Encouragement to taste authentic Chinese cuisine