In Liaoning, Shenyang barbecue fascinates local people; Dalian barbecue is featured with grilled seafood; Dandong barbecue is rich in exotic charm; Jinzhou barbecue has been listed in the intangible cultural heritage… Delicious Liaoning barbecue is known across China.

In 2021, Liaoning Provincial Museum held the exhibition: To Understand the Taste—Food Culture of Han, Wei and Jin Dynasties in Liaoning. Cultural relics like the gray pottery furnace(Zhi furnace) unearthed from the No.2 Mural Tomb in the South Xuemei Village of Liaoyang City were displayed. According to experts, “Zhi” means to skewer the meat cut into pieces and then roast on fire, same as the kebabs of today, namely barbecue grill. So our ancestors have begun to eat barbecue over 2,000 years ago.

As time went to 1980s, stalls for selling barbecue appeared on the streets of Jinzhou, Liaoning. The stall barbecue was gradually received by the local people thanks to its unique taste, cheap price, dining convenience and flexible choice. In 2011, Jinzhou barbecue was listed in the third batch of municipal intangible cultural heritages, approved and published by Jinzhou Municipal People’s Government.

The Shenyang barbecue is characterized by its famous skewers, Xinjiang-style roast lamb leg and grilled seafood special in coastal cities. Going with Northeast China style cold vegetable dish and Shenyang local beer, Shenyang barbecue give people endless relief. In addition, Dalian, Dandong, Yingkou and other cities have all found their unique menus. Liaoning citizens all love barbecue and can’t give up this food.

In Northeast China, barbecue takes almost half of the catering industry. Data suggests that there are 28,000 existing enterprises related to barbecue in Liaoning up to mid-April. In Liaoning, kebabs, Korean barbecue and barbecue with special sauce are most popular, according to delivery service. For kebabs, they like to order mutton kebabs, beef kebabs, chicken gristles, tendons and thin sheets of bean curd most.

Liaoning Hotel and Catering Association said there are over 200,000 employers in the barbecue sector only in Shenyang City, which tells a booming barbecue economy. In May, Liaoning  will host a barbecue competition.