To really find this out you will need a few things : a strong stomach, remove from your mind a few set ideas about what to eat or not to eat, and a couple of real good and close Chinese friends that will help you guide thru this experience.  In a way, I have been very lucky to find a great :Lady who agreed to become my GF and guide in many Chinese customs and traditions, and so far, the ride has been great.

I took my time to explain to her my likes and dislikes , my preferences in spices, and those foods I will not eat under any circumstances.  She accepted this, and within those limits, she has prepared many dishes for my sampling that has been great.  Both in flavor and in giving me extra knowledge of Chinese cuisine and culinary ideas.

For example, one of her beliefs is that any part of an animal you eat will fortify that same part in your body.  So, if you eat kidneys then your kidneys will be better.

I am sorry I can not give you names, it is no way I could remember them since they sounded so strange to my ears.  All I can tell you is to try real hard to find a good friend, explain clearly your dislikes, and then within your likes, or within what you are willing to eat, trust this friend to guide you.  It will become a very pleasant experience.

Most of the things I've eaten since I've been here have been wonderful! In the U.S., Chinese food really is terrible, being a domesticated and homogenized version of what is available here. Of course, I didn't know that until I got here.

I absolutely love Hunan dishes! Lots of variety, spice, and color. I have a pretty basic taste in food. I've learned to love tofu, in any shape or style it is prepared in. I like the sliced pork and hot green peppers, ground beef with onion and fiery red peppers, and cabbage with peppers.

When I was in Qingdao last December, we had the best eggplant I've ever tasted. It was stuffed with shrimp and then baked in some type of sauce. Absolutely wonderful!

Locally, venders prepare a sort of pita bread that is buttered with garlic and what appears to be a spicey paprika which is really good.

These are just a few of the dishes which come to mind. I'm sure there are many, many more!

Personally, I prefer either southern food (aka, Cantonese), or north-eastern food (DongBei). I don't like the spicy stuff through the middle-west belt (Sichuan, Jiangxi, Hunan).

I love a lot of the basic foods - xihongshi chaodan (tomato and egg), cola chicken wings, tang su li ji (like a sweet and sour pork.. but somewhat different to western style). I also love dongbei 's guobarou.

I did try this AWESOME lotus root dish - but only had it once, and never seen it otherwise, so I don't know bout your chances... but, it was lotus and other stuff ground up, and put into a ball - like a meatball - and then put into the dish with the fire under it (like a hotpot, but not.. hua?).. but fantastic!!