On May 27, the Michelin Guide officially announced that it will launch its first-ever provincial restaurant selection dedicated to Hunan Province this year. This marks the fourth provincial selection to be released by the Michelin Guide in the Chinese mainland, following Fujian, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.

Hunan will also become the first province in China's central region to have a Michelin Guide.

Previously, many people probably thought the Michelin Guide was a long way from Hunan, with some industry insiders even predicting it wouldn't enter the province within the next five years. But this time, the Michelin Guide chose Hunan.

Three Cities Selected: Changsha, Hengyang, and Yiyang

The Michelin Guide is a "culinary map" cherished by food enthusiasts worldwide. It was founded by the French tire manufacturer Michelin in 1900 with a simple purpose: to encourage people to drive further and buy more tires. No one could have imagined that, more than a century later, this free booklet would become one of the world’s most influential culinary guides.

Michelin has its own star-rating system. The guide quantifies one star as "high-quality cooking, worth a stop"; two stars mean "excellent cooking, worth a detour"; and finally, the prestigious three stars represent "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey."

How is the provincial selection compiled?

Reportedly, Michelin will select three cities from a province to create a distinctive culinary "map." For Hunan, the selected three cities are Changsha, Hengyang, and Yiyang.

Why these three cities? Michelin offers the following explanation:

Hunan is a land of fish and rice with abundant resources. As one of China's eight major cuisines, Hunan cuisine is renowned for its bold flavors of saltiness, aroma, freshness, spiciness, and sourness. The provincial capital Changsha blends classic traditions with constant innovation; Hengyang's food culture thrives along the river, excelling in freshwater delicacies; Yiyang, situated on the Zijiang River and Dongting Lake, features traditional dishes that embody the local dedication to the natural taste of ingredients and cooking details.

The "Hunan Province Michelin Guide" will be compiled by anonymous Michelin Guide inspectors, who evaluate the quality of dishes based on five criteria: quality of products, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, harmony of flavors, the personality of the chef represented in the dining experience, and consistency between Inspectors' visits.

Why Hunan?

The launch of the "Hunan Province Michelin Guide" appears unexpected, but it is a natural outcome.

Firstly, it represents a partnership between official promotion and market selection.

In June 2025, the Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce, together with 13 other government departments, issued the "Several Measures for Promoting High-Quality Development in Service Consumption," which explicitly included the goal of "promoting a Michelin Guide for Hunan Province and supporting Hunan cuisine brands in applying for international and domestic dining rankings such as 'Michelin' and 'Black Pearl'." This was a strong signal from the Hunan provincial government, aimed at using international standards to drive the quality upgrades of the Hunan cuisine industry.

Secondly, the market buzz surrounding Hunan cuisine has reached a fever pitch.

As a major star with a high market share among the eight major cuisines, Hunan cuisine has long since made its way out of Hunan. The total number of Hunan cuisine restaurants nationwide has exceeded 113,000, with a market size surpassing 110 billion yuan. Hunan cuisine is served in over 60 countries and regions around the world.

In early 2025, when the Michelin Guide (China) team made its first inspection visit to Hunan, brands like Chef Fei, Chuiyan, Wenheyou, and Xuji Seafood impressed the inspectors with their unique ability to blend industrial standards with vibrant local food culture.

Furthermore, there is the consideration of filling a gap in central China.

Currently, the Michelin Guide has released city lists for Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Hangzhou in the Chinese mainland, along with provincial lists for Fujian, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. For Michelin, choosing Hunan is not just about Changsha's trendy appeal but also about leveraging Hunan as a pivot to tap into the vast consumption potential of the central region.

Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, stated, "Hunan's food culture is fiery, vibrant, and inclusive. We look forward to using this list to showcase the exquisite skills and warm essence of Hunan cuisine to the world."

What It Will Bring to Hunan?

Some might ask, what can a foreign guide bring to Hunan? The answer likely extends far beyond a few stars hanging outside restaurants.

Firstly, the restaurant guide presents a brand-new opportunity for Hunan cuisine to align with international standards.

In Fujian, after restaurants like "Meet the Bund" were awarded stars, the international recognition of Fujian cuisine rose significantly, prompting a revaluation of the entire culinary tradition.

In recent years, Hunan has focused on "reducing salt and oil" to promote innovative development in its cuisine. The Michelin Guide's five criteria include strict requirements for flavor harmony, cooking techniques, and consistency. This can help optimize presentation details while maintaining its characteristic flavors of "saltiness, aroma, freshness, spiciness, and sourness," moving towards a healthier, higher-quality cuisine.

Secondly, it activates the synergy of "cultural tourism and consumption." "Traveling to a restaurant" has become a new consumer norm among Generation Z.

According to data from EY, 57% of frequent travelers stated they would stay longer in a city if it had Michelin-starred restaurants; 71% of respondents expressed willingness to spend more because of them.

For Hunan, which is striving to become a "world-class tourist destination," the arrival of the Michelin Guide is a powerful boost. Tourists will follow the Michelin Guide and travel specifically to Hengyang or Yiyang to seek out hidden eateries tucked away in streets and alleys.

Furthermore, the Michelin Guide enhances cities' international presence.

The release of the Michelin Guide is akin to Hunan issuing a fully English-language culinary map to the world. This not only attracts high-end international tourists but also significantly elevates the international commercial image of cities like Changsha, Hengyang, and Yiyang.

"Leveraging Michelin's global communication network, we can tell the story of Hunan cuisine to the world and showcase Hunan culture, making our 'Taste of Hunan' a new window for presenting Hunan’s image of opening up to the outside world," said a spokesperson for the Department of Commerce of Hunan Province. The spokesperson added that as the 'Oscars' of the global culinary world, the arrival of the Michelin Guide in Hunan not only serves as an authoritative endorsement of the quality of Hunan cuisine, but also provides a comprehensive showcase of Hunan's dining environment, cultural and tourism appeal, and image of opening up.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

责编：黄思婷

一审：黄思婷

二审：秦慧英

三审：张权

来源：湖南省政府门户网