- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- CookingFood
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every January 18
- Holiday emoji:
- 🦆
National Peking Duck Day arrives every January 18, inviting you to indulge in China’s legendary roasted duck. This culinary masterpiece, perfected over centuries, is renowned for its succulent meat and signature crispy skin. Seek out a local Chinese restaurant, try a home recipe, or explore the rich history behind this iconic dish.
Want to sponsor National Peking Duck Day? Learn how
Expected National Peking Duck Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that many Chinese restaurants and Asian eateries will offer special deals on National Peking Duck Day. Look for discounts on whole Peking ducks, combo meals featuring duck, or complimentary appetizers with duck orders at restaurants like Peking Gourmet Inn, DaDong Roast Duck, and local favorites. Specialty grocery stores such as H Mart or 99 Ranch Market might feature sales on ingredients for home preparation, including whole ducks or hoisin sauce. Upscale dining establishments might present prix fixe menus. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as January 18 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Peking Duck Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #PekingDuckDay. Share your favorite Peking duck restaurant, cooking process, or a creative recipe.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #PekingDuckDay. Post mouth-watering photos or reels of crispy duck skin, carving demonstrations, or your dining experience.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #PekingDuckDay. Share memories of enjoying Peking duck or ask friends for their top restaurant recommendations.
National Peking Duck Day Hero
Kublai Khan
History of National Peking Duck Day
No one knows when the first National Peking Duck Day was celebrated or who started it, but given the popularity of this dish amongst foodies, it’s no surprise that people have unanimously continued to celebrate it. Despite its simple appearance, the preparation of the Peking duck is quite elaborate. The recipe is ancient and dates back to the Yuan Dynasty since it was established by Kublai Khan. As is true with all recipes, the preparation for Peking duck has evolved throughout the years.
The White Beijing duck, or Peking duck, is the bird that is traditionally roasted for this meal. The duck is butchered once it is 65 days old, plucked, pumped full of air between the skin and the meat, soaked in boiling water, and skewered. It is then hung to dry, glazed with sugar coating, and left for 24 hours, to achieve that perfectly crispy skin. The bird is roasted, hanging from the center of the oven to allow the fat to drip, basting the skin as it does. After which the Peking duck is often sliced artfully by the chef before being served. The traditional Peking duck meal begins with a serving of the crispy skin and a sugar dip. Next, thin pancakes are filled with tender duck meat, hoisin and bean sauces, cucumbers, onions, and garlic. Finally, the duck soup is usually made with the leftover bones — the neck, wing joints, and feet.
National Peking Duck Day timeline
An early version of the Peking duck is served to Kublai Khan, leader of the Mongol Borjigin clan and first emperor of China’s Yuan Dynasty.
Hu Sihui, an imperial dietician, mentions ‘shāo yāzi’ — the original name for ‘Peking duck’ — in the ‘Complete Recipes for Dishes and Beverages’ manual, where he suggests roasting it inside the stomach of a sheep.
The Peking roast duck becomes a mainstay on the Ming Dynasty imperial court’s menu.
Bianyifang, a restaurant dedicated to preparing Peking duck using the old closed-oven roasting style, is established in the Xicheng District of Beijing.
Chinatown comes to a densely populated neighborhood in New York City, drawing foodies and tourists, and boasting several Peking duck outlets.
A Wang family hires an original Bianyifang chef and establishes the only Bianyifang restaurant that exists today in Qianmen, Beijing, continuing the Qing dynasty Beijing cuisine tradition.
The Quanjude restaurant in Beijing, known for its roast duck specialty, is established by Yang Quanren, the man who developed the hung-oven to roast ducks.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Peking Duck Day
Local Chinese restaurants and Asian eateries can celebrate National Peking Duck Day by offering special promotions on their signature dish. Consider a ‘Peking Duck for Two’ special, a limited-time appetizer pairing, or a discount for early bird diners. Culinary schools or cooking supply stores could host workshops on the art of preparing Peking duck, from roasting techniques to carving. Food bloggers and local media can highlight top spots to enjoy the dish, driving traffic to local businesses.
National Peking Duck Day FAQs
When is National Peking Duck Day?
In 2027, National Peking Duck Day is observed on Monday, January 18. Kick off your week with a culinary adventure, exploring the rich history and taste of this Chinese delicacy.
How popular is Peking Duck globally?
As a celebrated dish, Peking duck garners immense attention, particularly in major culinary hubs. Its iconic status ensures it remains a top choice for diners seeking authentic Chinese cuisine, with its reputation continuing to grow.
What are the key characteristics of authentic Peking Duck?
The hallmark of a well-prepared Peking duck lies in its distinct texture and flavor profile. The skin’s crispiness comes from a meticulous air-drying and roasting process, while the rich, savory meat provides a delightful contrast, making it a truly unique culinary experience.
What is the history behind Peking Duck?
The tradition of roasting ducks for the imperial court dates back over 700 years, with the dish gaining significant refinement during the Ming Dynasty. Its journey from a royal delicacy to a globally beloved dish highlights its enduring cultural and gastronomic importance.
National Peking Duck Day Activities
Enjoy a meal of Peking duck
Have a Peking duck meal at a restaurant of your choice or make the dish yourself at home. Enjoy the grand feast with family and friends.
Admire the way it is made
To make it worthy of your palate, the dish is served with just the skin and a little meat which is sliced in a dramatic manner before the diners. The entire process of the Peking duck meal is quite challenging and requires a lot of patience and diligence to achieve the desired results. Visit a restaurant to appreciate the elaborateness of the dish.
Try your own version of the dish
It’s quite difficult to make the perfect Peking duck at home, but you can try your own version of it. Improvise the recipe with poultry of your choice.
5 Facts About China
The most populated country on Earth
China has over 1.4 billion people as of September 2020.
Mandarin is not the only Chinese language
There are others such as Yue, Wu, Minbei, Minnan, Xiang, Gan, and Hakka.
Chinese New Year celebrations last 15 days
It’s the biggest holiday in China and is usually celebrated in January or February.
China has one timezone
Despite its huge size, everybody uses the official Beijing time.
The biggest travel spenders in the world
The Chinese spend $260 billion every year, twice what American travelers spend.
Why We Love National Peking Duck Day
It is delicious
Peking duck is so delicious they had to put aside a day for us to enjoy the wonderful dish. Don’t forget to treat yourself on National Peking Duck Day.
The recipe is rooted in tradition
Peking duck has a long and enviable lineage. National Peking Duck Day reminds us that we are still enjoying the very same dish that was once enjoyed by Kublai Khan!
A day to explore other cuisines
Why stop at Peking duck on National Peking Duck Day? Along with this delicious dish, don't forget other Chinese cuisine favorites like wonton and dumplings.
National Peking Duck Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | January 18 | Monday |
| 2028 | January 18 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | January 18 | Thursday |
| 2030 | January 18 | Friday |
| 2031 | January 18 | Saturday |
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