[Photo from Xinhuanet.com]

Essential to your Beijing dining experience is a brief tour of the many establishments that offer Beijing roast duck (Beijing kaoya), a delicious, lightly smoked, rich meal complimented with pancakes, dipping sauce, vegetable filling and irresistible slivers of juicy meat, fat and crispy skin (sometimes served first as a delicacy).

After basting in a secret concoction of sweetened sauces, ducks are roasted in a "hanging fruit-tree" oven for up to 50 minutes. They come out looking golden brown and juicy. A chef will slice it up for you at or near your table, making sure each piece includes at least a sliver of the duck's crispy skin.

The Chinese consider it the finest part of the duck. Every duck is sliced into 100-120 pieces. Dishes made of different parts of the duck are worth trying.

The Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant leads the popular duck front in Beijing, while the Bianyifang Restaurant offers another way of roasting duck that is delicious. Do not be deterred: kaoyadian (roast duck restaurants) can be found throughout the city at reasonable prices, and roast duck is also served at many ordinary restaurants.

 A taste of Beijing roast duck is every bit as important as a visit to Tian'anmen Square during your stay in Beijing. A friend, guide, business associate or hotel concierge will help you find a roast duck restaurant near you, or hop in a cab and try any of the following.

Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant

Address: 32 Qianmen Dajie, Dongcheng district

Tel: +86 10 6511 2418

Bianyifang Roast Duck Restaurant

Address: 2A Chongwenmenwai Dajie, Dongcheng district

Tel: +86 10 6712 0505

Dadong Peking Duck

Address: Building 3,Tuanjiehu Beikou, Chaoyang district

Tel: +86 10 6582 4003

Duck King

Address: 24 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district

Tel: +86 10 6515 6908

Liqun Restaurant

Address: 11 Beixiangfeng Hutong (south end of Zhengyi Lu), Qianmen Dongdajie, Dongcheng district

Tel: +86 10 6702 5681

Xiao Wang's Home at Ritan

Address: East of Beitianmen, Ritan Park, Chaoyang district Tel: +86 10 8561 5985