Chinese people are fond of fresh food and prefer to shop almost daily. When both parents work, bought or pre-cooked foods are the norm, especially for breakfast. Lunch is usually eaten in work or school canteens, where cooked food is always available. Dinner is the main family meal, in which people share several dishes at a round table.

In general, the Chinese eat an extremely wide variety of meats and vegetables. The one exception is dairy products, which are not part of the everyday diet. Instead, soybean products provide protein and calcium.

Regional cooking styles can be divided into four main groups. In the north, the delicate foods developed by the imperial court are balanced by the robust local cuisine, which uses strong flavours, such as onions and garlic, and prefers wheat noodles and bread to rice. The popularity of lamb reveals the influence of the Muslim population; pork is preferred elsewhere in China.

Because of the harsh climate and short growing season, many cooking techniques in western China are designed to preserve food. Sichuan, ringed by high mountains, was isolated from outside influences for centuries, and its spicy food with lots of chilies is now popular worldwide.

With its subtropical climate, southern Cantonese China enjoys four seasons of agricultural produce plus fresh seafood. The south is the culinary capital of China, famous for its variety of foods and recipes; most centre around lightly cooked vegetables and meats, with rice as the staple accompaniment. Eastern China also produces a variety of food, and the region's cooking is a blend of regional and foreign influences.

Chinese Roast Chicken

Ingredients 3 tbsp Chinese rice wine 3 tbsp honey 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tsp sesame oil 1/2 tsp white pepper 1 roasting chicken (1.3-1.6 kg), cleaned Preparation Mix all ingredients but the chicken in a bowl. Place the chicken in a resealable plastic bag. Pour the marinade into the bag and seal. Place in refrigerator for up to two hours, turning occasionally. Preheat oven to 180°C. Remove chicken from bag, reserving the marinade. Place chicken on a rack in a roasting pan, breast side up, and roast for 35 minutes, basting occasionally with the marinade. When the chicken begins to brown, cover it loosely with tinfoil. Turn the chicken and roast for another 35 minutes, basting occasionally. Turn again and roast until the meat near the bone is no longer pink when cut, about another 20 minutes.