Flavored by trade

An ongoing festival in Beijing lets foodies sample a Chinese cuisine that was greatly influenced by businessmen who traveled around the country and beyond to seek their fortunes

In China, there are few places that are so closely linked with businessmen than Anhui province. The only possible rival is Shanxi province with its so-called Jin merchants.

Nearly all aspects of life in the so-called Huizhou area, as it was known in ancient times, and which is now the southern part of Anhui province, were greatly influenced by businessmen who traveled around the country and beyond to seek their fortunes.