Peking roast duck is a must-try for visitors to Beijing. With a history of more than 600 years, Peking roast duck is the most famous gourmet cuisine of Beijing and one of the most popular foods in China. It has also received worldwide recognition for its tempting shining color, crispy skin and tender meat.

The secret of the delicacy lies in that ducks of a peculiar kind are raised to specific weight, slaughtered, dressed, syrup-coated, hung dry, and then roasted either in a closed oven or an open oven. The roast duck will be sliced by the chef and placed beautifully on a plate before the diners, who then eat the meat with pancakes, cucumber, spring onion and a sweet bean sauce.

While strolling down the streets of Beijing, you will find many Peking roast duck restaurants. Which one is the best place to savor this mouth-watering delicacy? Here, China.org.cn has picked the top 10 most popular Peking duck restaurants in Beijing.

   Liqun Roast Duck Restaurant (利群烤鴨店)

Specialties: Crispy duck bone with salt and pepper, mustard duck web, salted duck liver, soft-fried duck liver, dry-fried four delicacies

Whole duck price: 190 yuan (includes condiments)

Opened in 1902, Liqun Roast Duck Restaurant is a small courtyard eatery hidden deep in an old Beijing hutong. The restaurant is named after its owner, Zhang Liqun, a former chef at the Quanjude roast duck restaurant chain. This family-run restaurant is somewhat run-down but deserves a visit for its aromatic classic roast duck that is roasted to perfection. It also has more than 30 duck dishes, as well as the old courtyard experience. Liqun is well-known among locals and frequented by foreigners. It attracts customers mainly through the word of mouth instead of through advertisements. Reservations are recommended to avoid a long wait time.

Address: 11 Beixiangfeng Hutong, Qianmen Dongdajie, Chongwen District

Telephone: +86-10-67055578

Hours: 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Getting there: Subway Line 2 to Qianmen Station, or buses 9, 59 to Zhengyi Lu