Use This Winter to Become a Chinese Hotpot Master!
15 mins to finish reading this article
"There is nothing in China that you can't handle by a meal of hotpot, if there is a problem you can't handle with one meal, then two meals."
If you have lived in anywhere of China for some time, then you will naturally know how important HOTPOT is to your life here, especially in terms of socializing👇👇
You can't convince Chinese people that there is socialising going on without food. Here in China, especially in smaller cities, "go grab a drink" is never a social invitation. Instead, people will get your intention only if you say "let's go have some food together (Yes, at this time, a lot of them will choose to have hotpot)".
So, remember this when asking your Chinese friends out:
周末/有空 一起吃饭啊！
Zhōumò/ yǒu kòng yìqǐ chīfàn a！
Let's have lunch/dinner together on the weekend/when you have time!
How much do Chinese people like hotpot? Check out the data👇
This is a graph of all the online food ordering in China of 2017 and 2018. From 2017-2018, hotpot overstepped fast food to become the No.1 ordered food online, occupying over 1/5 of all the bills.
As food (especially hotpot) is so important for living in modern Chinese society, today I would like to take this chance to give you a briefing about all what you have to know about Chinese HOTPOT. Therefore, you can enjoy it more when you hang out with your local friends!
Hotpot is called 古董羹(gǔdǒnggēng) in ancient time. It's named after the sound made by food thrown into the boiling water. Like the English word "thud" in Chinese, is "gudong".
Thousands of years ago, People used giant cooking vessels to make hotpot and one meal can feed the whole village of people. Later on, with the setting up of etiquette, different hierarchies had different methods. Therefore, small pots emerged to satisfy the higher class.
During the Three Kingdoms period (A.D.220—A.D.265), an emperor embedded five clapboards to divide the pot into five parts with five different flavours.
In Song Dynasty (1127—1279), "涮shuàn" was invented varying the ways of having hotpot. People sliced meat into pieces and boiled them instantly and then ate with sauce.
At that time, Chinese people from the royal family to common people were all very fond of instant-boiled meat. Qianlong Emperor (1711-1799) was a famous hotpot fan. He once popularized hotpot by holding a feast for 5 thousand people.
In late Qing dynasty, boatmen along Yangtze River in Chongqing were keen on boiling meat with spicy soup, which was cheap but delicious and could also fend off the chill. Afterwards, it soon became the classical cuisine of boatmen. Developed over years, Chongqing people opened the first hotpot restaurant called "Bailetian" in 1921.
Since then, Chongqing Hotpot, Sichuan Hotpot and Chaoshan Hotpot represent the southern style. Instant boiled meat, Beef Hotpot and Lamb Hotpot represent the northern style. Both styles developed respectively divided by Yangtze River. Now Chinese hotpot has more than 30 kinds with different styles and flavours.
As you can see from the map, people from different places have different taste preference. People in the north like lamb and beef more. Yunnan people prefer mushroom and fish while Sichuan and Chongqing people are addict to chilli oil, goose/duck intestines and cattle stomach. People from Jiangsu and Zhejiang fancy chicken or other variations with nutritious elements. Cantonese's favourite is seafood with hotpot.
And one more important thing!
The DIP! 蘸料zhànliào！
Different styles of hotpot have different corresponding dips. You can fully enjoy a certain style of hotpot only if you choose the right dip.
The dip of North style hotpot:
80% Sesame sauce + 20% peanut sauce！
soy sauce, leek flower sauce, chopped scallion, coriander (optional)
The dip of Sichuan/Chongqing hotpot:
Sesame oil + mashed garlic！
chopped scallion (optional), coriander (optional), chilli (optional), oyster sauce (optional), sesame (optional)
The dip of Cantonese hotpot:
Shacha sauce (Cantonese barbecue sauce)！
mashed garlic, sesame, chopped scallion
The dip of Jiangsu/Zhejiang hotpot:
Seafood soy sauce!
mashed garlic, chilli, scallion, coriander (optional)
the dip of Yunnan hotpot:
"Zhanshui" - Yunnan Style dip！
houttuynia, chilli, sesame oil, soy sauce, rice wine, vinegar
With all this knowledge, now are you ready to start a hotpot tour in Shanghai?
Below I will list some representative hotpot restaurants of different styles for you to check out:
一、四川火锅 Sichuan Hotpot
【海底捞】（There are over 20 Haidilao in Shanghai！
Hǎidǐlāo
北京西路1068号3楼（近江宁路）
3F, No. 1068, West Beijing Rd. (close to Jiangning Rd.)
长寿路468号中环大厦4楼（近常德路）
4F, No. 468 Changshou Rd.
【重庆高老九火锅】
Chóngqìng Gāolǎojiǔ Huǒguō
九江路399号华盛大厦2楼
2F, No. 399 Jiujiang Rd.
【熊猫老灶火锅】
Xióngmāo lǎozào huǒguō
延安西路1394号
No. 1394 Yan'an West Rd.
二、涮肉火锅 Boiled meat Hotpot
（northern style）
【杨同兴饭庄清真涮锅】
Yángtóngxìng fànzhuāng qīngzhēn shuànguō
石门二路215号（新闸路）
No. 215 Shimen No.2 Rd. (close to Xinzha Rd.)
【东来顺饭庄】
Dōngláishùn fànzhuāng
南京东路66号5楼（外滩五席）
5F, No.66 East Nanjing Rd.
三、广东火锅 Cantonese Hotpot
【小辉哥火锅】
Xiǎohuīgē huǒguō
淮海中路282号香港广场北座4层
4F, No. 282, Huaihai Mid Rd.
【今日牛事潮汕鲜牛肉火锅】
Jīnrì niúshì cháoshàn xiān niúròu huǒguō
胶州路709号
No. 709 Jiaozhou Rd.
【捞王锅物料理】
Lāowáng guōwù liàolǐ
淮海中路939号巴黎春天5层
5F, No.939 Huaihai Mid Rd.
吴江路269号306
3F, No.269 Wujiang Rd.
四、云南火锅 Yunnan Hotpot
【焱格格云南雪菌老火锅】
Yán gége yúnnán xuějūn lǎo huǒguō
常德路800号800秀园区A4-1层（7号线昌平路站2号口）
A4-1, No. 800, Changde Rd.（Exit 2, Changping Rd, Line7）
【哈尼石锅鱼】
Hāní shíguō yú
愚园路68号晶品购物中心四楼
4F, No. 68, Yuyuan Rd. (Crystal Galleria)
If this is not enough, you can find more restaurants on the app of Dianping! Check how to use Chinese Yelp - Dianping 👇
Find any kind of services in China with Dianping!
In China, although there are different types of hotpot in different districts, people always have the same purpose to have hotpot. That is, just finding a reason to meet family and friends no matter how busy you are and where you are. We step into the restaurant from the cold outside, take off coats and sit close around a pot, enjoying the food and company without any disturbance. That's maybe the truth where the popularity of Chinese hotpot lies in.
That's all for today! Wish all of you enjoy hotpot fully in this winter!
Here's our student Mitch's story with hotpot（→ see more）. Let me know yours with leaving a comment below!
pics are from the Internet
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Floor 16 Room 1604-05
Shanghai
www.silkmandarin.cn
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