The famous Chinese time-honored brand "Quanjude" was founded in 1864 (the third year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty). Over the past 135 years, "Quanjude" has gone through many historical periods and experienced ups and downs. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, with the care of the party and the government, "Quanjude" got out of the danger of bankruptcy and gradually grew from weak to strong and prosperous. In May 1993, Beijing Quanjude Roast Duck Group Company was established in China, and the century-old restaurant regained its glory.
Yang Shoushan, courtesy name Quanren, was a native of Yangjiazhai, Jixian County, Hebei Province. In the early years of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty, Yang Shoushan, a smart and hard-working man, went to Beijing and started trading chickens and ducks. After I had accumulated a certain amount of savings, I bought the store "Dejuquan" that sold dried and fresh fruits on Qianmen Street and changed its name to Quanjude following the advice of Mr. Feng Shui. At that time, the business of Bianyifang in Mishi Hutong was booming, and the supply of braised roast duck was in short supply. Yang then wanted to roast a duck in the same way as a pig. After many experiments by Yang Shoushan and his colleagues, the hanging oven roast duck was finally successful. Its color, aroma and taste are all inferior to those of braised roast duck. Quanjude did not sell staple food at that time. When guests come to eat and want to eat staple food, they ask the apprentice to buy pancakes from the small restaurant next door and eat stir-fried vegetables from the Zhengyang Building of the Meat Market, Tianfutang, or Hongqing Building in Chaoshou Hutong. After more than ten years of operation, during the Xuantong and Republic of China years, it developed into a famous restaurant in Beijing.
The main reasons why Quanjude has become a famous restaurant are its honest selection of ingredients, exquisite cooking skills and careful operation; In the second year of Xuantong in the Qing Dynasty, Quanjude expanded its facade and converted it into a two-story building. In the restaurant, in addition to a single seating area that can accommodate forty or fifty people dining at the same time, there are also more than twenty private dining rooms.
Roast duck is the main variety of Quanjude. From duck selection, feeding, slaughtering to barbecue, everything is meticulous. The Beijing stuffed ducks selected by Quanjude must be raised for less than 100 days and weigh more than five kilograms before they can be slaughtered. After the duck is slaughtered and its feathers removed, dig a small hole under the duck's right arm. Through the small hole, insert two fingers to take out the duck's internal organs. Then wash the duck inside and out with clean water, and blow the duck skin with your mouth. To make a drum, insert a section of straw into the duck's tail, pour water through the hole under the duck's shoulder, and sew the hole shut with silk thread. After everything is ready, the duck is hung on the hook and roasted in the oven. In this way, the outside is roasted and the inside is cooked. The duck comes out of the oven with a buttery yellow skin. When people eat it, the duck meat is fresh and tender, the meat is fat but not greasy, and it is delicious and sweet, making people never tire of eating it.
In the Republic of China, Wu Xingyu, a famous chef from Tianjin Dengyinglou, was invited to Quanjude to cook. His cooking skills are superb, and the dishes he stir-fries are delicious in color and flavor. Dishes such as three non-stick dishes, steamed oven duck, large crispy meatballs, and walnut cool are his specialties.
After Yang Shoushan's death, his son Yang Qingchang and three other brothers continued to run Quanjude. Opened the No. 1 Quanjude branch in Nanshi, Tianjin. Since then, Quanjude Roast Duck has become famous throughout Beijing and Tianjin. After the July 7th Incident, Quanjude's business declined.
After liberation, Quanjude quickly recovered and developed. In 1950, it opened a branch in Xidan, Beijing (later Hongbin Building). In 1959, another branch was opened in Wangfujing. In 1964, the main store of Qianmenwai Meat Market was expanded. A spacious and bright new store was built on the front street of the original store, that is, on the east side of Qianwai Street Road. An overpass was built between the new and old stores to connect the old and new stores. The shops are connected together. In 1979, Beijing Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant was built in Hepingmen.
Roast duck is famous overseas. "If you don't visit the Great Wall, you are not a true man. It would be a pity if you don't eat roast duck." This is a tribute from foreign guests, such as Gary, Nicoson, Heath, Toshiki Kaifu, Lee Kuan Yew, Gandhi, Prince Sihanouk and other heads of state, leaders, prime ministers and officials from nearly 200 countries and regions have visited Quanjude, which has long enjoyed a high reputation. In 1979, a Quanjude branch was opened in Tokyo, Japan. In May 1993, on the basis of Beijing Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant, Qianmen Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant, and Wangfujing Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant, a large-scale group enterprise, Beijing Quanjude Roast Duck Group Company, was formed, integrating more than 60 member companies. Beijing Quanjude Group was formed. Quanjude's standardized traditional duck oven has applied for a national patent; the new quick-installation roast duck oven has settled in the United States.