A must when sampling Peking food. Noodles were also invented in the north of China. Other dishes include chilli king prawns, and double fried shredded beef. The Coastal Region around Shanghai is lush and humid, and therefore the growing season extends all year. Wheat, corn, rice and sweet potato are the major crops.
Wheat flour is replaced by rice as the staple.
The cooks on the coast use more soya sauce and sugar, and specialise in many salty and gravy laden dishes. Fish and shellfish from the nearby rivers and sea are popular ingredients. A little further south, Fukien produces the best soya sauce. The region is famous for its soft spring rolls, which are thin dough skins stuffed with a variety of meats and vegetables. Fukien is also famous for its pork and chicken dishes made from sweet tasting fermented red rice paste.