5,000 years of eclipse
Since the Tang Dynasty, Yangzhou has been a gathering place for wealthy merchants, and its prosperity and wealth can be called the most at that time. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the salt merchants of Yangzhou were the only ones, and the wealth was even enough to rival the country. Whenever Emperor Qianlong went down to the south of the Yangtze River to inspect and saw the food and drink of the salt merchants, he was amazed. These salt merchant giants not only have a lot of money, but also know how to taste life. Most of them have celebrity chefs in their homes who are skilled enough to create one or two stunning dishes. In order to meet the luxury needs of wealthy merchants, Huaiyang cuisine gradually emerged. Huaiyang cuisine is mainly stewed, stewed, steamed, stewed and other cooking techniques, focusing on the original flavor and emphasizing the umami of the main ingredients. Famous dishes such as three-cup chicken, stewed golden and silver hooves, chestnut yellow stewed chicken, etc., all fully reflect the characteristics of Huaiyang cuisine. These dishes often need to be slow-simmered for a long time during the cooking process to preserve the original flavor of the ingredients. Huaiyang cuisine also pays special attention to knife skills and shapes, such as melon lantern engraving, to make the dishes more artistic. 
Yangzhou is located between the Jianghuai Lake and the sea, and its unique natural environment provides it with abundant seafood and vegetable raw materials. It is these delicacies that make Huaiyang cuisine mellow in taste and bright in color. Huaiyang cuisine tastes sweet, but not excessive, and the combination of sugar and salt makes the dishes have a long umami taste and endless aftertaste. He is good at using sugar, red yeast rice, clear sauce and raw materials, so that Huaiyang dishes are colorful, bright and vulgar. Such as:"Hidden in the snow", the snow-white egg white and the black eel silk reflect each other, and the color and flavor are good. 
To sum up, Huaiyang cuisine has gradually developed and grown under the luxury demand of wealthy merchants, and has become a brilliant treasure in Chinese food culture with its unique cooking techniques, strict selection of ingredients and plastic arts. 