Life of Guangzhou - Cantonese Cuisine to Be Declared An Intangible Cultural Heritage

A traditional Canton Dim Sum, chicken stuffed in glutinous rice.

Guangdong's Professional Food Union says Cantonese cuisine will soon be declared a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, according to the Guangzhou Daily.

It is another recognition of Guangdong culture, following the province recently winning a similar declaration for herbal tea.

Consisting of elements of Guangzhou, Hakka and Chaozhou cuisines, Cantonese cuisine is one of China's four renowned historical cuisines.

"In 2006, the turnover of Guangdong restaurants reached RMB1,600 billion, one seventh of the combined turnover of all restaurants in China, and the highest of all provinces," said the President of Guangdong's Professional Food Union Mr. Zhang Junxiu.

Moreover, 100 million overseas Chinese live in Europe，America, Australia and Southeast Asia, most of whom are from Guangdong province. It's a great advantage for the worldwide recognition of Guangdong – also known as Lingnan - food culture.

(By Shanna Chu, David Kelleway)