Nanjing has had a love affair with ducks since its time as China's imperial center. Dishes include duck blood vermicelli, a hearty soup that's especially good during winter months.
Duck blood vermicelli —
Nanjing has had a love affair with ducks since its time as China's imperial center. Dishes include duck blood vermicelli, a hearty soup that's especially good during winter months.
Elaine Yu/CNN
A rival to Beijing's classic roast dish is Nanjing's Jingling duck. It's the crisp, greasy skin layered over tender meat that many think makes them superior to other roasted poultry.
Jinling roast duck —
A rival to Beijing's classic roast dish is Nanjing's Jingling duck. It's the crisp, greasy skin layered over tender meat that many think makes them superior to other roasted poultry.
Elaine Yu/CNN
The best salted duck has pale skin and pink meat.
Salted duck —
The best salted duck has pale skin and pink meat.
Elaine Yu/CNN
Glutinous rice, a classic Chinese fare, pairs perfectly with bits of duck for this shaomai dish.
Duck shaomai —
Glutinous rice, a classic Chinese fare, pairs perfectly with bits of duck for this shaomai dish.
Elaine Yu/CNN
An experience that's more about the flavor than the meat, duck chins have a texture not unlike squid, but bonier.
Duck chin —
An experience that's more about the flavor than the meat, duck chins have a texture not unlike squid, but bonier.
Elaine Yu/CNN
Spiced duck hearts can be enjoyed as street food in Nanjing. These blobs of duck offal are sold cheaply -- less than a dollar for a skewer.
Skewered duck hearts —
Spiced duck hearts can be enjoyed as street food in Nanjing. These blobs of duck offal are sold cheaply -- less than a dollar for a skewer.
Elaine Yu/CNN
A lump of duck fat is the secret to this otherwise ordinary pastry.
Sesame pastry —
A lump of duck fat is the secret to this otherwise ordinary pastry.
Elaine Yu/CNN
Bits of subtly sweet roasted duck skin are embedded in duck meat for this xiaolongbao spinoff.
Duck soup dumpling —
Bits of subtly sweet roasted duck skin are embedded in duck meat for this xiaolongbao spinoff.
Elaine Yu/CNN
Nanjing's locals take duck fever to new levels. These kids are chowing down on entire duck heads.
China's duck capital —
Nanjing's locals take duck fever to new levels. These kids are chowing down on entire duck heads.
Elaine Yu/CNN