Veteran chef strives to preserve delicate flavors of Hangzhou cuisine

Mao Huiqun joined the Shangri-La hotel in West Lake seven years ago after cooking Hangzhou cuisine for more than 20 years.

He went there not for its Western elements but to better understand authentic local cuisine.

Light music wafted in my ears the moment we stepped into Shang Palace, the hotel's Chinese restaurant which has been in operation for more than 30 years.