Seeking the classic bird at Quanjude

A taste of Peking roast duck has been considered a must for any visitor to China's capital, on a par with visiting Tian'anmen Square and the Great Wall. With its history of 151 years, Quanjude is a respected place to experience the classic dish.

The brand's Hepingmen restaurant, built in 1979, not only offers gourmets a chance to dig into the traditional food but also the whole roast-duck culture, thanks to a 1,000-square-meter museum on the seventh floor. A visit there took me on a journey through 31 delicate steps of preparing the duck, from breeding to roasting, which helped me appreciate what was later on my plate.

Quanjude's whole roast duck (238 yuan, or $38) featured tender slivers of juicy meat with purplish red skin, complemented with lotus-leaf-shaped and hollow pancakes, sweet dip and vegetable fillings.