Wu Yubo teaches his apprentice to arrange a plate at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025.
Peking Duck, a representative cuisine of Beijing, has won popularity across the world for its golden, crispy skin and juicy, flavorful meat. Set up by Yang Quanren in 1864 in Beijing, "Quanjude", a time-honored brand for Peking duck, has become a must-go for visitors from both home and abroad. In 2008, Quanjude's craft of making Peking Duck was listed in the second batch of national intangible cultural heritages.
The cooking craft of Peking Duck, which has been passed down for seven generations in Quanjude, is mainly used in two steps, preparation and roasting.
To ensure the quality of its duck, Quanjude only chooses a type of local ducks which are fed and raised in a special way so that the proportion of the fat in the duck meat is strictly under control. During the roasting procedure, Quanjude uses wood from hard fruit trees and open fire to get a better taste. Meanwhile, the chef will also use a long stick to turn and move the duck from time to time according to his experience, making sure the duck is heated evenly.
Wu Yubo, born in 1957, a Master of Chinese Cuisine, is the technical director of Quanjude and also one of the six-generation inheritors for the national intangible cultural heritage. Wu was enrolled into the company in 1976 after graduation. Fascinated by the beautifully crafted works of making Peking ducks in Quanjude, Wu learned the skills successively from senior chefs, and gradually formed his own style. Now, he is making great efforts in the training of young chefs, in a hope to pass down the culture of Quanjude and the technique of making authentic Peking Ducks.
While cherishing the heritage and tradition, Quanjude also keeps on innovating to embrace the future. In a way to attract young people, Quanjude has not only created a youthful brand image but also tried to bring itself into the daily life of the younger generation through online promotions and cultural creative products.
Being a "name card" of Chinese food, Quanjude has also served foreign leaders and tourists during various international events and occasions such as the Olympic Games, bringing the culture of traditional Chinese cuisine to the whole world. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Wu Yubo checks the prepared duck at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Wu Yubo checks a roasted duck at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Wu Yubo (R) teaches his apprentice at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Wu Yubo prepares the duck at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Wu Yubo (L) teaches his apprentice to prepare ducks at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
A chef prepares to slice a roasted duck at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Wu Yubo shows how to slice a duck at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Wu Yubo prepares a duck at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Wu Yubo shows the skills of roasting ducks at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Wu Yubo takes roasted ducks out of an oven at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Wu Yubo shows how to slice a duck at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
A chef prepares to slice Peking Duck for customers at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
A chef learns the dish presentation at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
A plate of sliced Peking Duck is displayed at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
This undated file photo shows a foreign tourist experiencing the making of Peking Duck at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua)
A plate of sliced Peking Duck is displayed at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
A staff member introduces the history of Quanjude to customers at its first-ever store on the Qianmen Street in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Ducks are being roasted in an oven at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Ducks are being roasted in an oven at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
People visit a museum of Quanjude at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
A chef prepares to promote Peking Duck through online streaming at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
A foreign guest eats Peking Duck at the first-ever store of Quanjude on the Qianmen Street in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
This undated file photo shows a foreign tourist posing for photos with a waiter in traditional costumes at the first-ever store of Quanjude on the Qianmen Street in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua)
Customers look at cultural creative products of Quanjude at one of its experience stores on the Qianmen Street in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Cultural creative products are displayed at the Hepingmen store of Quanjude in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Customers taste Peking Ducks at the first-ever store of Quanjude on the Qianmen Street in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
The first-ever store of Quanjude is seen on the Qianmen Street in Beijing, capital of China, March 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Customers have meals at the first-ever store of Quanjude on the Qianmen Street in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
This photo taken on March 25, 2025 shows the replica of an old Quanjude store at its first-ever store on the Qianmen Street in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
A mascot of Quanjude is displayed at the entrance of an experience store of Quanjude on the Qianmen Street in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
People walk to the first-ever store of Quanjude on the Qianmen Street in Beijing, capital of China, March 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
