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During a press conference in Quanzhou, Fujian province, four restaurants from Yangzhou, Jiangsu province earned One Diamond status in the 2026 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide, boosting the city's profile as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
Cheng Yuan from Yangzhou is featured on the 2026 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide. [Photo/WeChat account: yangzhou-fabu]
This year's guide highlighted emerging trends in China's fine-dining landscape, marked by upgraded cuisines, diversified offerings, localization efforts, and enhanced dining experiences.
Yangzhou's honorees, namely Quyuan Teahouse (Changchun Road), Cheng Yuan, Mountain Restaurant, and Yangzhou Yan's Beijing branch, are making the most of these trends.
Mountain Restaurant blends diverse culinary styles and hosts exquisite gatherings to attract younger diners. Chengyuan, a two-time honoree, adheres to a "small yet exquisite" model despite tripling its floor area.
Wei Wei, vice president of Meituan, noted that AI and smart POS systems have been used in fine-dining restaurants. Online reservations for 2025 Black Pearl restaurants surged by 23 percent year-on-year.
The inclusion of Yangzhou's four restaurants in the guide is a recognition of their quality and innovativeness. As local flavors are further explored and made more appealing to younger generations, Yangzhou's fine-dining sector is expected to continue thriving.
