Fit for an emperor

Have you ever wondered how Chinese emperors dined in this ancient capital city? There's an easy - if slightly expensive - way to find out. Fangshan Restaurant is found within Beihai Park, one of the most important imperial gardens of the Qing Dynasty.

"Careful selection of ingredients, elaborate preparation and exquisite decoration are key components of imperial cuisine," explains Wang Tao, the restaurant's manager.

Founded in the park in 1925, the restaurant was the first imperial style restaurant established in Beijing. The name "fang shan" actually means "food following the style used for the imperial family".