Written by: Yan Ziyun
Posted on: March 02, 2018 | 
| 中文
Luoyang Water Banquet (Source: Top China Travel)
An important component of the Chinese cuisine, the Water Banquet, or “banquet served separately as the guests arrive in succession,” is a time-honored tradition in Chinese culture, and is especially popular in Luoyang, Henan Province. Here, it has the longest history, richest content and most elaborate cooking style. Therefore, the so-called ‘Luoyang Dinner’ is among the top three wonders in Luoyang, along with the Longmen Grottoes and the Luoyang peony.
With a history of over 1,000 years, the Water Banquet in Luoyang is one of the famous banquets passed on for generations in the history of Chinese cuisine. Originating in the Sui and Tang dynasties, the Water Banquet in Luoyang was introduced to the imperial palace in the reign of Empress Wu Zetian (624?705? AD). By adding precious ingredients to it, the banquet was made into imperial food, and then spread to ordinary people, thus the peculiar flavor attributed to it.
Any cuisine reflects the geographical features of an area. Surrounded by mountains all around, Luoyang is located in a basin and has low rainfall. Therefore, people in Luoyang often have soup-related food. By relishing hot and sour food, they defend themselves against aridity and cold. The food in Luoyang thus, is considered incomplete without soup.
As the Water Banquet in Luoyang is characterized by soup, each dish is served after the other, the changes as smooth as flowing water. The Water Banquet in Luoyang meets the needs of both the high brow and the low brow members of society. That is, it can be delicate and coarse, simple yet rich. It is good for common people and can also be exquisitely presented in gourmets.
Three outstanding features of the Water Banquet in Luoyang make it appealing. There are both meat and vegetables, cold and warm dishes; there are soups of sour and hot flavor, catering to the tastes of people from both the north and south of China; plus, a strict order is to be followed as the dishes are served.
The 24-course Water Banquet in Luoyang is all-inclusive and meets a diversity of tastes. The serving is orderly, unique and fun, starting with eight cold dishes, four of meat and the other four of vegetables, succeeded by four rounds of three-dish course and ending with four main courses.
The first main course is Luoyang Swallow Dish (or Nest), made with shredded turnip, chicken and other vegetables stewed in soup stock. A blooming eye-catching yellow peony is placed on the surface of the soup, which looks fragrant, tastes delicious and refreshing, and has rich hot and sour flavors.
The second main course is “Happy Family” (Stewed Assorted Meats), made with different kinds of meats and vegetables. The third main course is Eight-Treasure Rice Pudding. Fried green vegetables and egg soup, the last two dishes, are the most intriguing, which suggest to diners that the end of the banquet is near.
The Muslim Water Banquet prepared by the Hui people in Luoyang, is dominated by meats such as beef, mutton, chicken and fish, and alterations are made to the Water Banquet in Luoyang, with halal ingredients.
Favorite destinations for dining include the time-honored Yang’s Dining Hall located at the corner of East Qiming Road of Muslim Food Street of Luoyang, where sliced mutton in soup and Muslim Water Banquet have been passed on for generations. One also gets to taste delicious Muslim Water Banquet at Jianjian Water Banquet Garden at Xiayuan Corner and North Maodan Water Banquet.
In April, when the Luoyang peonies start blooming, you are welcome to visit Luoyang with friends, taste the Water Banquet and appreciate the peonies.
Translated by Shan Xuemei
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