The Michelin Guide will further expand its footprint in the Chinese mainland in 2026, adding Hunan province as a new provincial selection and welcoming Tianjin as a new destination on its growing culinary map of China.
Following the launch of the inaugural Michelin Guide Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai Selection in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, on April 9, Michelin announced its first-ever Hunan provincial restaurant guide. The selection will spotlight three key gastronomic destinations: the provincial capital of Changsha, as well as Hengyang and Yiyang.
Tianjin will officially join the Michelin Guide as a new destination. Its restaurant selection will be published alongside the Beijing Michelin Guide, reflecting the close cultural and culinary ties between the two neighboring cities.
The expansion marks another step in Michelin's regional development strategy in the Chinese mainland, offering a more comprehensive and nuanced view of China's diverse food traditions and rich culinary heritage.
"China is a vast country blessed with abundant natural resources and an extraordinary culinary heritage. This year, we are delighted to expand our gastronomic map to even more regions rich in culture and tradition," said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide.
"Hunan is the birthplace of Xiang cuisine, one of China's eight major culinary traditions. Its food culture is vibrant, bold and inclusive. Through the inaugural Michelin Guide Hunan Selection, we look forward to showcasing to the world not only the refined craftsmanship of Xiang cuisine, but also the warmth and spirit that define it," he said.
"We are also delighted to welcome Tianjin as a new Michelin Guide destination. The city's distinctive charm and unique culinary identity will shine alongside Beijing, becoming a new highlight on the Michelin Guide's gastronomic map," he added.
As the Michelin Guide enters a new chapter in China in 2026, the vibrant flavors of Hunan and the distinctive culinary traditions of Beijing and Tianjin will together enrich its growing gastronomic landscape. Through an increasingly diverse and regionally focused lens, the guide continues to showcase the breadth and depth of Chinese cuisine, offering global diners new opportunities to explore one of the planet's most dynamic food cultures.
