On April 9, the first edition of the MICHELIN Guide Jiangsu was officially released in Nanjing. A total of 74 restaurants across Jiangsu Province made the list, including 32 in Nanjing. Among them, two received one MICHELIN Star, and 14 were selected as MICHELIN-recommended restaurants. The MICHELIN Guide was first launched in France in 1900. Initially, it provided practical advice for early car owners. But today, 125 years later, it has become the world’s most recognized food guide, with countless restaurants—and even cities—gaining widespread fame after being featured.
Since September 2016, the MICHELIN Guide has gradually expanded into China, starting with first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Unlike these cosmopolitan hubs known for their international flair, the MICHELIN Guide in Nanjing aims to highlight localized culinary culture—giving more grassroots players in the food scene a chance to shine on the global stage while offering consumers a well-rounded gastronomic travel experience.
Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide, said that Nanjing has a genuine food culture and a passionate community of food lovers. What surprised MICHELIN inspectors most was the remarkable diversity of the city’s food scene. They believe this richness is rooted in Nanjing’s deep history, strong culinary traditions, abundant local ingredients, and the exceptional skills of its chefs. “Deeply influenced by nearby Huaiyang cuisine, Nanjing’s gastronomic landscape is synonymous with precision. Watch the city’s chefs move deftly as they craft local delicacies with almost sculptural finesse,” said Poullennec.
Nanjing has long been known as the “Duck Capital.” Meiyuan Restaurant at the Jinling Hotel, which earned a spot in this year’s MICHELIN Guide and holds a 4.9 rating on dianping.com, has been praised by users as serving “the best salted duck in all of Nanjing.” The city also boasts one of the strongest consumer markets in China. Here, you’ll find everything from Deji Plaza—the world’s top-performing standalone shopping mall in 2024—to trendy districts built for young people, along with countless vibrant alleyways packed with street food that draws massive crowds.
Nanjing has consistently invested in cultivating its local food scene and promoting dining consumption alongside sectors like culture, tourism, and housing. It’s this kind of environment that has allowed Nanjing to develop a food industry marked by both quality and diversity.
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