As much as any other ethnic group, the Chinese people are preoccupied with food. The norms that govern food selection and consumption in China are quite different from those encountered in the West. This analysis examines the role of food in Chinese society from its historical, medical, social, and cosmological perspectives (Anderson, 1988). After considering food in China from each of these four perspectives, this paper then examines the role that food plays in Chinese festivals, and regional patterns of food consumption. Implications are offered for those businesses interested in Chinese food-related markets, businesses conducting operations in China, and researchers interested in understanding Chinese culture.