When it’s 11:00 p.m., you may go to bed. But for some people, it’s time to have yexiao. Yexiao is the fourth meal of the day in China. It usually begins at 8:00 p.m. and finishes at 2:00 a.m. They have yexiao at home or at the night market (夜市).

The night markets in Xi’an are very famous (著名的). They are places for eating and shopping. Parents take their children to eat there. Young people can buy some nice things, like watches, hats and bags. Old people like sitting and talking to their friends.

Yexiao is not only about food, it’s a way of life. Eating with friends, talking and walking are all parts of it.

Eating habits are different in different countries. The Chinese have a saying, " Eat good things for breakfast, eat a big meal for lunch, but eat less at dinner. " Many Americans agree that one should start the day with a good breakfast, but their ideas about lunch and dinner are different.

Most Americans only give themselves a short time for lunch. So they eat a small lunch. After work they will have more time to eat a big dinner. Also a quiet dinner at home with all the family talking about their day is a way to take a good rest after a long , hard day of work.

Eating at restaurants is also different.   In China, people like to talk and laugh while eating.   Very often you can hear people talking and laughing loudly, and they are just having a good time.   In America it is not like this.   They want a quiet place where they can eat a good meal far away from the noises of the outside world. If someone is talking too loudly, the manager (经理) of the restaurant will look at him or her angrily. If some people are talking too loudly, the manager of the restaurant may come out and ask them to be quiet.

The British like simple food. They usually add only salt and pepper to their food. The British often get their meals ready very quickly, because many women go out to work, and they do not have much time to spend in the kitchen. In supermarkets there are a lot of food in tins（金属食品盒）and packets. ①Just cook the food for a few minutes, and the meal is ready. On Sundays, there is usually a bigger, better lunch. It is usually a big piece of roast meat with potatoes and green vegetables, and after that, some dessert.

②So many British women do not spend a long time in the kitchen. And their husbands（丈夫）do not spend a long time at the dinner table. Some people think that the British eat only when they are hungry. Some families eat their meals in front of the TV. The mealtime is not a time for families to talk to each other as it is in many other countries in the world.