China's mind-boggling culinary expanse

We talk about Chinese food in the West as if it's a single, unified cuisine, but anyone who has visited China knows that's not the case.

There is East China food, West China food, and North and South China food, and that's before we even start talking about the combinations between them and the sub-categories.

Imagine trying to methodically work your way through successive regional variants until you've tasted every dish and cooking style this vast country has to offer. You might start your tour from some central point and swing out in an ever-growing arc, each day anew savoring new foods or culinary variations.