Changsha

The cooking skills employed in Hunan's cuisine reached high standards as early as the Western Han Dynasty over 2,100 years ago. Since Changsha is the provincial capital of Hunan Province, this city is home to many authentic dishes. Hunan cuisine in Changsha is characterized by its hot and sour flavors, fresh aroma, greasiness, deep coloring and the prominence of the main flavor in each dish. Main cooking methods include stewing, frying, pot-roasting, braising and smoking.

Famous Changsha dishes include Dong'an Chicken, Mala ziji (Hot-spiced and Peppered Fledgling Chicken), Lawei hezheng (Assorted Cured Meat) and Fermented Bean Curd.