What are the different styles of Chinese cuisine?

When referring to Chinese food, you might picture your typical rice and orange chicken. However, in China you need to be a little more specific. In fact, there are 8 great regional cuisines of China due to the vast size of the country. Sichuan cuisine, for example, is known for spicy and bold flavors, whereas Cantonese cuisine is sweet with a variety of sauces. Shanghainese food tends to be a little more salty than the rest of the country and food in Beijing is often fried and features soy and sesame flavors.