A growing number of people are eating alone, whether at home or in restaurants, and overturning traditional etiquette. Zhang Yangfei reports. In China, food has always played a major role in promoting social cohesion. Communal eating is not only familybased and deeply rooted in the nation’s cultural heritage, but is also regarded as an indicator of society’s health and stability. Given that background, it is little wonder that eating alone, publicly or privately, has long been considered taboo.