[Photo provided to China Daily]

"It (the meal) is not only a family reunion but also a moment to satisfy my 'Cantonese stomach'," she says.

There is a saying in Cantonese: "It is not a banquet without chicken."

Guangdong people's love for chicken can be seen in their numerous ways of cooking it－boiling, steaming, salt-roasting, stewing and stir-frying, usually seasoned with soy sauce, scallion oil or "sand ginger", a special kind of ginger grown in Guangdong that is more pungent than other varieties.

The warm and humid weather of Guangdong may also have something to do with the local preference for chicken over beef and mutton. The latter two generate dryness and heat in the body, from the point of view of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. Thus, they are more popular in northern China where the winters are severe.

Since this year is the Year of the Rooster, according to the Chinese zodiac that features 12 animals, chicken will undoubtedly be the center of attraction at the table for the Spring Festival Eve dinner in Guangdong.