"Goodness, I never knew people could make such an exquisite feast," said Mr Zou, a middle age civil servant with the local government.

"I believe I am a gourmand or a food connoisseur, but in the past 40 years of my life, I had never seen or tasted such a banquet ... It is magic," said Zou, who was attending the 4th China Shenyang International Food Festival, which will end on August 17.

What amazed him most was China's so-called No 1 feast, the Man Han Quan Xi, or Feast of Complete Manchu Han Courses. Such mouth-watering dishes are showcased for the public in Shenyang's Hotel of Qing (Dynasty) Culture. Liu Fuguo, manager of the hotel's Food & Beverage Department, told China Daily that around 30 chefs spent three days working on the 196 different kinds of dish. The dishes used various Chinese ingredients and cooking methods.

It is said that at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the new conqueror, Manchu had a different taste in food. To satisfy both Han Chinese and the Manchu, however, the banquets were divided into two forms -- the Han banquet and the Manchu banquet. As time went on, the customs and cultures of the Manchu and Han gradually blended in the middle period of the Qing Dynasty. This also promoted the mix of food cultures.

Liu told China Daily that the feast they created is only the first set of a total six courses, called Mongolia Marriage Feast. This is held to entertain a Mongolian family who married into the Manchu royalty.

The total cost for the banquet is around 200,000 yuan (US$ 24,660).

(China Daily August 13, 2005)