Shangri-La wine, Dalian's Wagyu beef a cut above the rest

Beef belly, tongue, tenderloin, fillet and sirloin steak are all on the menu of the Japanese restaurant chain Sushi Yotsuba, which uses about 38 different beef cuts in its dishes every day.

However, the prime cut is Wagyu beef and to many diners' surprise, it isn't imported. Instead, it comes from Dalian, Liaoning province, where the Wagyu cattle are raised on a 900-day grain diet.

In recent years, high-quality ingredients sourced domestically have become popular in upscale restaurants across China. Consumers are also increasingly appreciating locally sourced ingredients thanks to advances in farming techniques, transportation and storage.