Beijing roast duck is Beijing's most famous dish. Originating in the Ming Dynasty and flourishing during the Qing Dynasty, it has a history of over 600 years and was originally an imperial palace delicacy. When Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty moved the capital to Beijing, the roasting techniques were brought from Nanjing to Beijing and further refined. In 2008, the hanging-oven roasting technique of Quanjude Roast Duck was included in the second batch of China's National Intangible Cultural Heritage list, earning the title "A Bite of Intangible Cultural Heritage".

The outer skin of Beijing roast duck is crispy, while the meat is tender, rich, and not greasy. In terms of cooking methods, Beijing roast duck is divided into two types: hanging-oven roast duck and closed-oven roast duck. Hanging-oven roasting requires that every slice of meat includes skin, while closed-oven roasting emphasizes separating the skin from the meat.

How should you eat roast duck the authentic way when you visit Beijing? The classic method is to dip the sliced duck in a little sweet bean sauce, pair it with scallions and cucumber strips, and wrap it in a lotus-leaf pancake. In addition, many roast-duck restaurants in Beijing offer creative versions, such as stuffing the duck meat, sweet bean sauce, and scallions into a sesame bun, or wrapping garlic paste, sweet bean sauce, and radish strips in a roll, or even pairing duck with caviar and other specialty ingredients.

Today, Beijing's most renowned roast-duck restaurants include Quanjude, Bianyifang, Dadong, and Siji Minfu. Among them, Quanjude Roast Duck is considered the No. 1 specialty of Beijing, enjoyed by many visiting state leaders. Bianyifang uses the traditional closed-oven roasting method and has nearly 600 years of history. Dadong adapts roast duck to modern tastes and is known for its innovative "Crispy but Not Greasy" style. Siji Minfu has become especially popular with tourists in recent years. At its Forbidden City Store, diners can enjoy delicious roast duck while admiring the view of the Forbidden City’s corner tower.

Tips:

1.Recommended Quanjude stores: Qianmen Store and Hepingmen Store. Qianmen Store is the birthplace of the Quanjude brand, with nearly 160 years of history and a classical, elegant interior. Hepingmen Store was built under the direction of Premier Zhou Enlai and is Quanjude's second directly operated store in Beijing, having hosted numerous distinguished guests from China and abroad.

2.Siji Minfu's Forbidden City Store, Wangfujing Dong'anmen Store and Qianmen Store are located near major attractions and tend to be very busy. It is recommended to arrive early or avoid peak dining hours to reduce waiting time.