This November, Man Fu Yuan at InterContinental Singapore resurrects the gastronomic grandeur of the Qing dynasty with a rare Manchu-Han Imperial Feast, once reserved for emperors alone.
For centuries, the Manchu-Han imperial feast was the food of emperors — a banquet of mythical scale reserved solely for royalty and the highest of state occasions during the Qing dynasty. Originating in the 17th century, this rare and extravagant feast spans several days and featuring over 100 dishes showcasing both the hearty flavours of Manchu cuisine and the refined subtlety of Han cookery.
This November, for the very first time in Singapore, diners will be able to experience this rare and extravagant culinary tradition at InterContinental Singapore’s acclaimed Chinese restaurant, Man Fu Yuan. Happening 8 and 9 November 2025, Executive Chinese Chef Aaron Tan — the first Singaporean formally trained in this culinary art — will collaborate with his mentor, Master Chef Qi Jinzhu, to present an authentic interpretation of dishes from the legendary banquet.
This “Auspicious Clouds” interpretation of the royal Manchu-Han banquet cuisine looks to distill its grandeur into an immersive dining experience while staying true to the spirit of the original court banquets. Master Chef Qi is himself a direct culinary descendant of the Qing court, having trained under Tang Keming, the last imperial chef of the Qing dynasty, so diners can expect rigorous historical authenticity with modern finesse.
And while it won’t be quite the number of dishes you’ll find at a proper Manchu-Han imperial banquet thrown by food-loving Emperor Qianlong, diners can still expect just slightly over 20 dishes to sate any raging royal appetite. And it certainly won’t take days.
The evening begins with a Cantonese tea ceremony before unfolding into a carefully choreographed progression: cold plates, hot dishes, stir-fries, breads, soups, and finally, a cleansing tea.
Highlights of the expansive menu include:
- The Phoenix Returns to the Nest — a poetic double-boiled bird’s nest with velvety chicken mousse, premium Jinhua ham, and white fungus, simmered into an ethereal broth.
- Kun Lun Abalone — premium dried abalone braised with nearly two metres of dried grouper skin, a dish demanding extreme precision to achieve its balance of tenderness and umami.
- Orchid Bear Paw — a thoughtful homage to the once-forbidden delicacy, recreated using pig skin, minced pork, and beef tendon to emulate its prized gelatinous texture.
- Roasted Whole Lamb — marinated in Mongolian spices and perilla leaf, then roasted slowly to tender, fragrant perfection as the dramatic centrepiece of the evening.
The banquet concludes with Pearl White Jade Soup, a delicate finale of baby spinach, tofu, and rice, followed by a final cup of Cantonese tea.
As befitting its imperial pedigree, this experience extends beyond the plate. A live orchestra will perform traditional compositions while calligraphers and dancers add a layer of courtly splendour, transporting diners into the grandeur of a Qing palace banquet.
While modern reinterpretations of the feast have occasionally surfaced in Asia, this take Manchu-Han imperial feast by Man Fu Yuan is unprecedented with the presence and guidance of Master Chef Qi with his appointed disciple Chef Aaron, underscoring the cultural and historical weight of this collaboration. It is as much an act of preservation as it is of celebration — an effort to keep alive one of the most elaborate culinary heritages in Chinese history.
Priced at S$588++ per person, the Manchu-Han Banquet “Auspicious Clouds” Edition at Man Fu Yuan in InterContinental Singapore is available for dinner on 8 and 9 November 2025, from 5.30pm to 10.30pm. Reservations required; call +65 6825 1008 or [email protected].
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