Three regional styles

As a result of centuries of immigration, the province of Guangzhou features many subdialects within its borders. This diversity is reflected in Cantonese cuisine, which embraces three distinct schools, each based around its own individual dialect group: Canton; Swatow (Chaozhou) from the city of Shandou; and the Hakkas from the region known as Dong Jiang.

The Canton school offers by far the largest spread of dishes; some, such as stinky tofu, an odorous delicacy from Hong Kong in which tofu is marinated in fermented vegetables for several months, so exotic that they have earned the cuisine its great reputation for adventurousness. Swatow or Shandou cuisine, on the other hand, is notable for its clear flavours and seafood dishes.