Though people now eat spicy Chongqing hotpot all year round, even in summer, the chilly winter offers more reasons to enjoy the mouthwatering delicacy.

This strongly-flavored and oily local dish has gained huge popularity in recent years, especially since the release of the food documentary A Bite of China four years ago. It seems like there are Chongqing hotpot restaurants in every Chinese city, though most people in northern and coastal regions never used to eat chilies.

Boasting both the best and largest number of hotpot restaurants in the country, Chongqing was named "China's hotpot city" by the China Cuisine Association in 2007.