Jiangxi cuisine, also known as Gan cuisine, is one of China’s major regional culinary traditions and holds a prominent place in the nation’s gastronomic heritage. Celebrated for itsboldflavors, vibrantcolors, and enticing aromas, Gan cuisine is known for beingrich yet not greasy, offering a balanced taste profile that issalty, fresh, and slightly spicy.

The cuisine employs a variety of cooking techniques, includingbraising, stir-frying, stewing, simmering, and steaming, each contributing to the complexity and depth of flavor. Signature dishes include:

· Sanbei Chicken (Three Cup Chicken) – a fragrant dish simmered in soy sauce, rice wine, and sesame oil

· Steamed Pork with Rice Flour – a tender and savory favorite wrapped in lotus leaves

· Chrysanthemum Heart – a delicately prepared fish dish

· Red-Braised Pork – slow-cooked until melt-in-your-mouth tender

· Double-Layer Tripe, Wenshan Chicken Diced, and Si Xing Wang Yue ("Four Stars Gazing at the Moon") – each dish showcasing local flair and seasonal ingredients

While Gan cuisine maintains a unified style, it also embraces diverse regional sub-schools, each with distinctive features influenced by local ingredients and cultural customs. The four major culinary centers include:

· The Yu Zhang Plain

· The Rao Xin River Basin

· The Ji Tai Basin

· The Xu Jiang Valley

Jiangxi’s geography—nestled along the southern bank of the Yangtze River and enriched by a network ofrivers, lakes, and lush mountains—has given rise to a cuisine deeply rooted in the land. The province’s warm, humid climate has shaped a preference forstrong, aromatic, and spicyflavors, reflecting both environmental adaptation and cultural tradition.

Gan cuisine emphasizes the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients, drawing from the province’s fertile farmlands and rich natural resources. Notable local specialties include:

· Nanchang Lettuce – crisp and flavorful

· Wuyuan Red-Bag Carp – a regional delicacy prized for its texture and taste

· Nanchang Rice Noodles and Xiajiang Rice Noodles – popular street food staples

· The renowned “Three Stones” of Mount Lu:

o Stone Ear Fungus,

o Stone Fish,

o and Stone Chicken, all rare mountain ingredients known for their nutritional value and unique textures

In Huangling, the essence of Gan cuisine is not only preserved but creatively interpreted, offering visitors the chance to experience Jiangxi's culinary soul through meals that areas culturally rich as they are delicious. From family-run kitchens to festive banquets, every bite tells the story of a land steeped in flavor and tradition.