"The Michelin is the most recognizable award for a restaurant. Almost all diners know what the guide is about."

Tan Guohui, the chef of Yun Pavillion at Conrad Guangzhou, echoes this sentiment.

"Guangzhou is now one of the 32 cities worldwide that has a Michelin guide. Isn't that a good promotion of the city and Cantonese cuisine?" he says.

Yun Pavillion is among the 35 restaurants in Guangzhou awarded with the Michelin Plate, which according to the guide means that "customers can enjoy a carefully prepared meal with fresh ingredients".

Maxime Lu, a food and wine critic from Beijing, says: "Disagreements occur whenever the Michelin guide arrives in a new city. It was the same with Shanghai. But at the end of the day, it is still the most renowned and powerful dining guide on a global level."