How about Yueyang Food? Yueyang is adjacent to Dongting Lake so of course aquatic food is a feature of the local Yueyang cuisine. Compared with fish from the sea, the fresh water fish from Dongting Lake tends to be more flavorsome. The whitebait that inhabits in the water around the lake's Junshan Island is a top-grade fish, which is high in protein and very nourishing. 

What to eat in Yueyang ?

Baling Fish Feast  （Baling  Fish Banquet）

With fish from Dongting Lake as the raw material, the banquet consists of more than 20 fish dishes prepared through frying, steaming, braising, boiling in a covered pot over a soft fire and many other techniques, each showing its unique characteristics.

Dongting preserved mallard 

This is very famous in Dongting Lake area. The mallard living in Dongting Lake is excellent for making this dish that includes ingredients such as cress, ginger and sesame oil, and compares favorably with the very popular Beijing Roast Duck.

Spicy Fish Head
The fish head should be large, probably from an enormous carp or similar freshwater species, thus comical, and it should be frosted with the chopped blend of dried, fresh and fermented chiles that give Hunanese cooking its reputation for head-snapping heat. 

The huge fish head features splendid colors and bold flavors.The ingredients include red pepper crusted tuna, onions, ginger, salt and cooking wine and peanut oil.

Sliced Chicken with Junshan Yinzhen Tea-leaf

It is another nationally-famous dish which can compare fame with the Longjing Stir-fried Shrimp. Junshan Yinzhen Tea is fragrant and sweet in taste and said to have the capacity for soothing the nerves as well as being an aid to the digestive system. The dish is stir-fried resulting in the chicken becoming tender and fragrant. It is popular among the expats.

Cu Shui (vinegar liquor) Bean Curd

It is made from the choice soy bean and its high protein content means it is popular with vegetarians. Another bean curd is called Changshou (longevity) Wuxiang (spiced) Bean Curd. This is added to chicken soup, together with sesame oil and other spices and is really tasty.

Shrimp Cake 

That is the local snack around Dongting Lake made from flour paste and shrimp that is crisp and flavorful. Another snack called Shixing Glutinous Rice Cake is also very tasty, and made from choice sticky rice. In Shixing Village of Xixiang Town, Pingjiang Countylocated to the northeast of Yueyang City, it is custom during the Spring Festival celebrations for people to make this rice cake named after their village by pounding the rice with a mallet and then cooking it by either frying or roasting.

Miluo Zongzi
Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), traditionally known as Jiaoshu (millet angle), was originated from Miluo. A popular belief amongst the Chinese of eating zongzi involved commemorating the death of Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poet from the kingdom of Chu who drowned himself in the Miluo River. Miluo zongzi has been long famous for its wide range of varieties and exquisite craftsmanship.

Where to eat in Yueyang ?

Jin Xiang Yuan Restaurant
Recommendations: Yueyang local dishes, Braised Catfish in Casserole, Steamed Turtle
Business Hours: 10:00-21:00
Bus Route: No.21, 41, 24, 27
Address: Jin E Road (East)

Tai Yan Shen (Apollo) One Restaurant
Working Hours: 09:00-21:00
Address: at the right of Gezi (pigeon) Square and east gate of Jin E Company

Nanxian Donkey Meat Restaurant
Recommendations: fresh donkey meat
Business Hours: 09:00-21:00
Address: Jianxiang Road
Bus route: No.37, 10, 41, 6, 35, 33

Western Restaurants in Yueyang

Man De Fu Western Fast-Food Restaurant

Recommendations: hamburger fried chicken

Working Hours: 09:00-22:30

Duo Xi Lai Cake House
Working Hours: 08:00-24:00
Address: No.9 Jingyuan Commercial Square, Jin E Road (Middle)

Golden Wall Street Restaurant
Working Hours: 10:00-01:00 (next day)
Address: beside the Steel Products Market, Jianxiang Road (North), Yueyang Lou District