China's top 10 noodles [Global Times]

The Wuhan hot dry noodle is China's most famous noodle, with the Beijing fried sauce noodle running a close second, according to a Top 10 list by the Ministry of Commerce and China Hotel Association.

The Shanxi sliced noodle ranked third on the recently released list, ahead of noodles from the Henan province, Lanzhou City, Hangzhou City, Kunshan City, Zhenjiang City, the Sichuan province and Jinlin province, which ranked fourth through tenth, respectively.

In the past, the Wuhan hot dry noodle, Beijing's fried sauce noodle, Shanxi's sliced noodle, Lanzhou's noodle and Sichuan's dan dan noodle have been considered China's "top five" noodles. The Ministry of Commerce-Hotel Association noodle rankings are the first from a professional source. The new list has already proved controversial, with many expressing surprise that it failed to include any noodles from the Shaanxi province. Shaanxi produces more than 100 noodle varieties and is renowned for its 3,000 year history of rich ingredients and cooking skills.

The exclusion of Shaanxi has led some to question the criteria used to make the list, and to ask that it be published. Others have speculated that the much-loved Shaanxi Biangbiang Noodle was excluded because "Biang" is simply too difficult a character to write in Chinese.

Still others argue that Shaanxi's lack of promotion and branding is to blame. The Lanzhou government has launched a nationwide campaign to promote its noodles, and, in Wuhan, the government has listed the hot dry noodle as part of the cultural heritage. The Shaanxi government has done comparatively little to promote its local snacks. Some netizens are therefore suggesting that perhaps Shaanxi was left off the list simply because its people didn't need a list to tell them what they already know.