A Map of Chongqing Characteristic Breakfast (Photo provided by Chongqing Geographic Information and Remote Sensing Application Center)

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- “Xiaomian (noodles) with an egg, please!” In the streets of Chongqing every morning, people will coincidentally call out like this. When it comes to breakfast, many Chongqing people prefer to Xiaomian. However, in addition to Xiaomian, Chongqing has many local characteristic breakfasts which are worth a try. Recently, Chongqing Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau and Chongqing Geographic Information and Remote Sensing Application Center released the “Map of Chongqing Characteristic Breakfast”, which gives us an introduction for tasting the delicious food in the streets and lanes of Chongqing.

Every Chongqing native has his or her own favorite breakfast. Some only love Xiaomian, and just need a high stool and a small square stool when having Xiaomian in a street; while some love rice noodles, including Hechuan, Changshou, Qijiang, and Nanchuan rice noodles which have their own shapes and tastes and make people satisfied for a whole day; some love mung bean noodles which are circled in an iron pan early in the morning and make people feel hot for a whole day; and others love tofu pudding rice, fried flour, wonton…

Let’s take a look at a few of them first.

Chongqing Xiaomian

Xiaomian (noodles) is one of the most common breakfasts in Chongqing. Only after tasting a bowl of authentic noodles, can you say that you have been to Chongqing. Generally, Chongqing Xiaomian refer to spicy noodles with condiments only, but there are also various noodles with minced meat (sauce) in general noodle shops. Condiments are the essence of Chongqing Xiaomian. A bowl of noodles is enhanced by condiments. It can even be said that Chongqing Xiaomian has no fixed taste, and every noodle shop has its own recipe. Another feature is that many Xiaomian shops in Chongqing are opened along roadside, forming a unique urban landscape.

Qijiang · Qijiang rice noodles

Some people say that it’s a respect for the whole day for a native of Qijiang to have rice noodles as breakfast. Qijiang rice noodles are white, soft, tender and smooth. In each town and street, in addition to the same strip-shaped rice noodles, there are different cooking methods, different condiments, and even different tastes. Among them, Fuhuan rice noodles and Ganshui rice noodles are two leading noodles among Qijiang rice noodles.

Yunyang · Yunyang wonton

Yunyang wonton is a unique breakfast for the native of Yunyang. Different from Chaoshou, Yunyang wonton is “small and exquisite”, thin and crystal-clear, with thin skin and a little stuffing. Collided with the fragrant oily spiced pepper, it is radiant in the bright red soup. It tastes spicy and fragrant but not dry. After having a bowl of wonton, people can start a whole day of passion.

Fuling · Tofu pudding rice

The natives of Fuling love tofu pudding rice as breakfast. The tofu pudding restaurants scattered around the streets and lanes look inconspicuous, but they are running well. The essence of Fuling tofu pudding rice lies in many kinds of condiments that usually need to be put on a large table. The natives of Fuling “chooses condiments” according to their tastes, and feel satisfied since the morning after having tofu pudding rice.

Chengkou · Gege noodles

Gege noodles are a unique breakfast in Chengkou County. Gege is another name of “steaming grid”. Multiple small bamboo steaming grids are used for making steamed pork. The steamed pork in Gege is tender and the potato in it has a unique aroma. A bowl of noodles mixed with steamed pork which is steamed in bamboo grid, is called as Gege noodles. The natives of Chengkou also like adding fried dough twist in noodles, and they will feel happy immediately when they take a bite. (Translated by Zhang Ying, Fathom Language Limited)