ChineseFoodChinesearefamousfortheircuisine.Chinesearetheultimategourmet.EspeciallyinsouthChina,theywouldsaythey'deateverythingthathasfourlegsbesidesthedinnertable,everythingthathastwowingsbesidesaplane.ManyofthedishesservedinChinamayreallysurprisenewcomers.Andmanyofthesedishesaresocalledmedicinaldishesbelievedtohaveextraordinarynutritionalvalue,includingSharkFin,SwallowNest.

　　SnakesoupisamongthemosttreasuredsoupsinChina.Thentherearealsosnakegallandbloodmixedinliquorwhichsupposedlywillbrightenyoureyes.Some"westernized"ChinesewouldsuggestthatifAdamandEvehadbeenChinesewehumanswouldstillbeintheGardenofEdenastheywouldhaveeatenthesnake.

　　ChopsticksarethemaintableutensilsinChina.Chinesechildrenstartswithaspoonbutwilladapttochopsticksasearlyaswhenhejustturnsone.Asagiftchopstickssymbolizestraightforwardness,becauseofitsshape.Chinesechopsticksdon'thavepointedtip,unliketheJapanesestylethatisrefinedtopickoutthebonesfortheirmaindiet,fish.Chinesechopsticksaremostlyofbamboo,buttodaytherearemoreandmorewoodenonesandplasticones.

　　Foreignersarenotexpectedtousechopsticksproficiently,butiftheydo,theywillgiveamightyimpression.ThereforebeforeyougotoChina,gotothelocalChineserestaurant,ifnottofindauthenticChinesefood,atleastyoucanpracticetheuseofchopsticks.IfinyourfirstmealinChinayoudon'thavetousechopsticks,thenifyoustillcan'thandlethetwostickstopickupabigshrimpinyourtenthmeal,youshowyourincompetenceinlearningandthewillingnesstolearn.