This project is a digital remake of the 1958 edition of 北京饭店名菜谱 (Beijing Hotel Classic Cookbook), originally published by the Beijing Hotel Editorial Team (北京饭店编写组). The cookbook contains a collection of classic Chinese recipes from the renowned Beijing Hotel, which has long been regarded as a symbol of Beijing's culinary excellence.
Due to the original book's use of acidic paper and poor binding quality, it has deteriorated significantly over time. This project aims to digitally restore, proofread, and reformat the cookbook while preserving its authenticity and historical value.
- Digitally preserve the original cookbook by providing high-quality scans, image processing, and releasing it in open formats.
- Modernize the text while maintaining the original culinary authenticity.
- Standardize formatting using LaTeX to ensure a polished, professional final version.
- Promote open-source collaboration by inviting community contributions to proofread, edit, and improve the content.
| Version | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0.1 pre-Alpha | ✅ Released | "Poor Man's Photocopy Edition" – Raw scanned pages, processed for readability. |
| Upcoming Versions | 🚧 In Progress | Proofread text, OCR refinement, LaTeX formatting, and structured editing. |
You can download the latest release from the Releases page.
We welcome proofreaders, editors, and LaTeX contributors! If you would like to help, follow these steps:
- Check Open Issues – Find a recipe that needs proofreading by visiting the Issues tab.
- Assign Yourself an Issue – Select a recipe and mark it as "In Progress".
- Download the Text File – Each recipe is available in a separate file.
- Proofread & Edit – Correct OCR mistakes, standardize characters, and ensure proper formatting.
- Submit a Pull Request – After completing your edits, submit a PR referencing the specific issue.
- Standardize characters to modern Simplified Chinese (e.g.,
蕃茄 ➝ 番茄). - Retain ingredient names historically accurate while ensuring no alterations to the original content.
- Textual Modernization: The original text will be proofread and updated with modern Chinese characters, simplified where applicable, while maintaining the integrity and historical value of the recipes.
- High-Quality Scans: The physical book will be scanned at resolutions of 400dpi or higher, with image processing to ensure clarity and readability.
- Versioning and Workflow: The project will follow an agile development model, with sprints and incremental releases. Each completed recipe will be available as a separate file. Contributions, including proofreading and recipe validation, will be open to the community.
- Preserve Beijing Hotel's Culinary Heritage: Safeguard and protect the historical dishes of the Beijing Hotel.
- Share Traditional Recipes with Modern Audiences: Make these time-honored recipes accessible to contemporary chefs and home cooks.
- Encourage Community Collaboration: Foster community-driven proofreading and testing to improve the quality of the project.
- Digital Remake: The original recipes will be digitized and preserved in high-quality formats for broader accessibility.
- Collaboration-Friendly: This project is open-source on GitHub, allowing contributors to proofread recipes, submit pull requests, and enhance the content.
- Image Processing: The book’s images will be processed using modern tools such as Lightroom and ImageMagick to ensure high-quality results for digital reproduction.
The project follows an agile, sprint-based development model, with the following stages:
- Scan & Image Processing: High-quality scans of the book pages will be created.
- Text Proofreading & Modernization: Recipes will be proofread and updated to meet contemporary Chinese language standards.
- Proof of Concept & Testing: A preliminary version (Version 0.0.1 pre-Alpha) will be released for early feedback.
- Full Remake Release: After further refinement, the project will reach its first "Alpha" release, with fully proofed and modernized content.
This project is licensed under the terms of the BSD 3-Clause License, and all contributions are encouraged.
This cookbook holds significant cultural and historical value, particularly as it relates to Beijing's culinary tradition and the Beijing Hotel’s role in developing and preserving these classic dishes. Special thanks to all contributors and users of this project for helping preserve this important piece of Chinese culinary heritage.
For more details, issues, or contributions, please feel free to open an issue or reach out via GitHub discussions.