Universally recognized as one of the greatest cuisines of world, 中餐被公认为全球最佳美食之一，
Chinese food in all its variety and complexity is unquestionably one of the finest pleasures a visitor can experience in China.
其种类之丰富，工艺之繁复，使其理所当然地成为游客大快朵颐的乐事之一。CULINARY DELIGHTS IN CHINA 中国美食
1，Chinese cuisine is a brilliant facet of Chinese culture, 中国美食是中国文化一道绚烂的风景线，
which is proven by the fact that Chinese restaurants are found scattered everywhere throughout the world.
这点从世界各地随处可见的中餐馆可以窥见。
Today, the culinary industry is developing even more rapidly than before. 当今，烹饪业正以前所未有的速度在发展。
A decade ago, Beijing had a few thousand restaurants, 10年前，北京只有几千家餐馆，
while today there are over 100,000 restaurants of different sizes in the city. 而今天却有10万多家大小不等的餐馆遍布市内。 2，Regional Chinese Cuisines 地方美食
It is widely acknowledged that from the Ming（1368 - 1644） dynasties onwards, there are eight major schools of cuisine based on regional cooking. 众所周知，明朝以来出现了八大菜系，
They came from Shangdong, Sichuan, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, and Anhui provinces.
分别是山东菜、四川菜、广东菜、福建菜、江苏菜、浙江菜、湖南菜和安徽菜。 In addition to these traditional cuisines, the culinary industry in China has undergone great changes,
除了这些传统菜系，中国的烹饪业也经历了巨大的变化：
as almost every place has it own local specialties, 每个地方都形成了自己的特色菜，
and as the differrent cuisines gather together in big cities, such as Beijing. 不同菜系汇集于诸如北京这样的大城市。
3,Sichuan, known as Nature's Storehouse, is also a storehouse of cuisine. 被誉为“天府之国”的四川也是个美食之都。
Here, each and every restaurant provides delicious yet economical culinary fare. 在那里的任何一家餐馆都能找到既可口又经济实惠的美食。The ingredients for Sichuan cuisine are simple but the spices used are quite different. 川菜的原料虽简单，但调料却大有讲究。
Sichuan cuisine is famous for its spicy and hot food, 川菜以口味辣著称，
yet just being hot and spicy does not necessarily distinguish it from other hot and spicy cuisines such as Hunan or Guizhou cuisines.
但仅是口味辣还不能使川菜区别于其他辣口味的菜系，比如湖南菜和贵州菜。 What is really special about Sichuan cuisine is the use of Chinese prickly ash seeds, 川菜的特别之处在于花椒的使用。
the taste of which leaves a feeling of numbness on one's tongue and mouth. 尝过花椒之后，人们的舌头和嘴巴会留下酥麻的感觉。Besides this unique spice, Sichuan dishes are also usually prepared with other spices such as chili pepper. 除了花椒之外，川菜还常用辣椒粉之类的调料。
Using fermented bean sauce and a set of unique cooking methods, 因使用豆豉作配料，再加上一套独特的烹饪方式，
Sichuan cuisine is now famous and popular across the world. 如今川菜在全世界都十分有名和受欢迎。
In recent years, there have appeared many more renowned restaurants specializing in Sichuan cuisine,
近几年涌现了一大批著名的专做川菜的餐馆，such as the Tan Family Fish Head restaurant.比如谭鱼头。
4，Guangdong Province is located in southern China, 广东省在中国南部，
with a moderate climate and abundant produce all year round. 全年气候温和，物产丰富。
As one of the earliest ports open to foreign trade, 它还是最早对外开放的通商口岸之一。
the province has developed a culinary culture with its own characteristics
广东的餐饮文化独具特色，that has exerted a far-reaching influence on other parts of China as well as throughout the world where it is the most commonly available Chinese cuisine.
对中国其他地方乃至全世界产生了深远的影响。
Guangdong cuisine is famous for its seafood as well as for its originality and refined cooking processes.
广东菜以其好生猛海鲜、追求新奇、细致考究的烹饪方法而著称。 Various soups in this cuisine are loved by people all over the country. 广东菜中的各式煲汤如今已深受全国各地人民喜爱。 5，Zhejiang cuisine is light and exquisite, 浙江菜口味清淡，精致玲珑，
and is typical of food from along the lower Yangtze River. 是长江下游区域菜肴的代表。
One famous dish is West Lake Vinegar Fish, 西湖醋鱼是其中的一道名菜。
which looks pretty and has the delicate refreshing flavors of nature. 这道菜鲜美，酥嫩，带着自然的清香。
Many Chinese restaurants in China, as well as in other parts of the world, serve this dish,
中国乃至世界各地的中餐馆大都能找得到这道菜，
but often the flavor is less authentic compared to that found in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province,
但口味往往不及在浙江杭州吃得那般纯正。which has unique access to the fish and ater of West Lake.
因为只有杭州拥有来自西湖的鱼和水。 6，Every Dish Has a Story 每道菜都有一段故事
The names of Chinese dishes are diverse,
中国菜名五花八门，but behind each of the famous dishes is an interesting story explaining why it is popular.
而每道名菜都有一段有趣的故事，说明它如何博得人们的喜爱 A good name can make the dish more interesting; 一个好名字能使这道菜更有意思；
however, some names are so eccentric that they may confuse people, both Chinese and foreigners.
但有些菜名太怪异了，听起来让人一头雾水，不要说外国人难以理解，就是中国人往往也不是很清楚。
If you only translate the names literally with no explanation, you could make a fool of yourself.
你要是望文生义，准得闹出笑话来。
7，Take Goubuli steamed buns in the city of Tianjin for example. 拿天津“狗不理”包子来说吧。
These popular buns are all of the same size and handmade. “狗不理”纯手工制作，大小均等，深受欢迎。
When served in neat rows on a tray, they look like budding chrysanthemum flowers. 这些包子整整齐齐地放在托盘上时，看上去就像是含苞欲放的菊花。
The wrapping is thin, the fillings are juicy, the meat tender and the taste delicious and not at all greasy.
皮儿很薄，馅儿饱蘸肉汁，口感柔软，香而不腻。 Then, why the name？可为什么叫“狗不理”呢? 8，
There is an interesting story behind it. “狗不理”的背后有一段有趣的故事。
Goubuli steamed buns were first sold in Tianjin about 150 years ago. 大约150年前，“狗不理”包子在天津初次亮相。
A local man by the name of Gouzi（Dog） worked as an apprentice in a shop selling baozi（steamed buns）.
当地有个小伙子，名叫狗子，在一家包子店当学徒。 After three years, he set up his own baozi shop. 三年后，自己单独开了一家包子店。 Because his buns were so delicious, 他做的包子味道鲜美，
he soon had a thriving business with more and more people coming to buy his buns. 因此生意十分红火，吸引了越来越多的顾客。
As hardworking as Gouzi was, he could not keep up with demand 狗子工作十分卖力，可他还是满足不了大家的需要， so his customers often had to wait a long time to be served.
顾客们只得等很长时间。Impatient, some people would call out to urge him on, 有些顾客等得不耐烦了，就在外面嚷嚷着催他快点， but as he was so busy preparing the buns, he didn't answer. 可狗子忙着做包子呢，哪有时间搭理。
People therefore came to call his buns Goubuli, 后来人们就把他做的包子称作“狗不理”， meaning “Gouzi pays no attention”. 意思是“狗子不搭理他们”。
This eccentric name, however, has had very good promotional effects,
可就是这个有点怪里怪气的名字，反倒起了很好的广告作用，and has been used ever since.这个名字一直沿用到了今天。