An Illustration of the Chinese Food Guide Pagoda (2022)

The Chinese Food Guide Pagoda (hereinafter referred to as the Pagoda) is a graphical representation that translates the principles of balanced diet into the quantities and proportions of various food categories, based on the guidelines and core recommendations of the Chinese Dietary Guidelines (2022).

The visualized composition of the Pagoda follows the principles of a balanced diet and reflects a nutritionally ideal basic food structure. The Pagoda consists of five tiers, with each tier differing in area to illustrate the five major food groups and their respective recommended amounts.

The five food groups include: 1) grains and tubers; 2) vegetables and fruits; 3) animal-based foods; 4) milk and dairy products, and soybeans and nuts, as well as 5) cooking oil and table salt. The food quantities are designed according to different energy requirement levels. The textual annotations alongside the Pagoda indicate the recommended daily intake ranges for adults over a period of time, at energy requirement levels of 1,600 to 2,400 kcal per person per day.