Zhang Jian (left), of the World Records Association, giving the Mianlaixiang restaurant chain its certification.(Photo/Xinhua)

When the 6th Shanxi Cooking Skills Contest was held, on Nov 22, in the Shanxi Hotel, Taiyuan city, Shanxi province, there was a lot of attention focused on a large copper wok, from the Linfen "Mianlaixiang" chain of restaurants.

The 2.8-meter-in–diameter vessel had eight fan-shaped sections, each with two pots the water temperature of which was controlled by a microwave oven, so it could produce eight different types of noodles at one time.

An official from the World Records Association, declared that it was the world's largest cooking vessel of its kind.

Edited by Roger Bradshaw