Diners eat at a giant hotpot, 10 meters in diameter and 1 meter tall, which weighs 13 tons and can serve about 50 people at the same time. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Though hotpot cuisines are basically the same, Chongqing hotpot has the strongest flavor, with beef tallow and large quantities of chili and Sichuan pepper. Local people love eating hot and spicy food, probably due to the humid climate in the city.