The vastness of China's geography and history echoes through the polyphony of Chinese cuisine.
Canton is, perhaps, the most famous of the food areas.
Long, warm, wet days throughout the year create the perfect environment for cultivating most everything. The coast provides ample seafood, the groves are filled with fruits. Cooking methods and recipes here are sophisticated and varied. Since the local produce is so gorgeous, the cooking highlights its freshness, relying less on loud sauces and deep-frying. To the mountainous west, in Szechwan and Hunan provinces, steamy heat and spicy foods fill the restaurants.