The perfect ingredient for creating beautiful travel memories is sampling Shanghai street food, available at any time of day from breakfast through until late in the evening.

With Shanghai street food so much a reflection of the melting pot that is Shanghai itself, it’s not surprising to find it profiled on travel and food sites around the world. Diversity, exotic flavors, and unusual dishes make for a culinary experience you’ll savor long after the last sticky dumpling has been devoured.

Come on tour with ChinaTours and on our Shanghai tours, a day tour or Shanghai layover or a longer multi-day China tour starting in Shanghai, make the most of the opportunity to expand and excite your palate. For a real experience of China – food adventurers can take to Shanghai streets with their dedicated ChinaTours.com local guide for a completely different edible experience.

Where to find Shanghai street food

Shanghai street food snacks can be discovered at well-known locations like the Shanghai Long Tang Food Court. Famous for the houses built in the area from the second half of the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, the public area between townhouses in the community acquired the name ‘LongTang’.

Now a busy intersection of food, commerce, leisure and entertainment, the Shanghainese keep tradition alive with their Shanghai street food businesses. From the early morning to the evening, all kinds of snack vendors line the alleys and the selling sounds echoed in various Long Tangs in Shanghai. On the top of the Mei Luo Mall, be sure to visit the Shanghai Long Tang Snack food court. There you’ll take a step back in Shanghai history as you discover the many hundred-year-old stores which have been serving traditional food to locals and travelers alike.

Ready for a food adventure? Let’s hit Shanghai’s streets and make some beautiful food travel memories.

Discover the origins of Shanghai street food

Steam Bun (小笼包 Xiao Long Bao)

The most famous steam bun in Shanghai is the Nanxiang steamed bun. Like just about everything in China, this iconic steam bun has a history spanning a hundred years. The bun’s skin is very thin, and the filling is made with lean pork meat, pork jelly, ground sesame, bamboo shreds and shrimps. So delicate is the outer skin of the bun that it’s said to have at least 14 layers of folded bread, and the flour used for 10 buns weighs just 100 grams. Virtually transparent, small and delicate, these delightful buns are juicy with each bite.

Soup Bun (灌汤包 Guantang Bao)

As with most of China, Shanghai street food wouldn’t be considered complete without a mention of these flavor (and nutrient) rich broth laden tasty morsels. Soup buns are in fact a kind of dumpling that is filled both with soup (broth) and seasoned pork filling. Eating these buns requires the help of a straw – first to ‘drink’ the broth inside the dumplings, then leaving you free to devour the bun in its entirety.

Pan-fried Pork Bun (生煎包 Shengjian Bao)

Yes, it’s another pork bun found among Shanghai street food! While the tasty, moist pork filling is similar to others we’ve mentioned and is wrapped with dough, these delicious dumplings are pan-fried, making them part soft, part crispy. Try eating just one – we don’t know anyone who has!

Shumai (烧卖)

Shanghai Shumai, more commonly known as pork shumai, is a very common breakfast Shanghai street food. It’s different from the ubiquitous dim sum shumai, which is made with pork and shrimp. Shanghai Shumai is filled with sticky rice and pork. Why not skip the hotel breakfast and get amongst the local Shanghai residents making their way to work and play?

 Fried rice roll (糍饭团 Ci Fan Tuan)

There are few amongst us who don’t love fried rice, but what about a fried rice roll? Sound too good to be true? Well, it’s not. A fried rice roll is one of the four breakfast warriors famous in Shanghai. It’s a sticky rice ball filled with Chinese fried dough (You Tiao), pork sung, and pickled vegetable.  We recommend starting at least one day on a Shanghai tour with this famous Shanghai street food.

Crab Shell Cake (蟹壳黄 Xieke Huang)

Crab shell cake is a type of shortbread baked from fermented flour with oil, sesame seeds and salty or sweet fillings. The name comes from its yellow/brown color, which resembles a cooked crab shell. There are many filling options so there’s no need to feel limited: spring onion, pork, crab meat, shrimp, sugar, rose petals, bean paste and jujube paste. The cake is crispy with a sesame flavor.  Delicious!

Meat Wonton Soup (小馄饨 Xiao Wonton)

Wonton soups are found all over China and Shanghai is no different. The wontons in Shanghai’s wonton soup are filled with freshly minced pork. Just prior to serving, the wonton soup is added with three fresh delicacies – egg pancake slices, dried small shrimps and dried laver (dried seaweed).

Glutinous Rice Dumpling in Sweet Rice Wine (酒酿圆子 Jiuniang Yuanzi)

Perhaps not a breakfast food, but certainly worth a sample at some time while taking in the streets and sights of Shanghai, this dish has tiny glutinous rice balls or dumplings boiled in a sweet rice wine recognized as Chinese yeast fermented glutinous rice. Low in alcohol content and sweet tasting, with the additional flavor of goji berries or Osmanthus added, this is a Shanghai street food dish to indulge in.

Make your stay in Shanghai a totally memorable street food experience

Apart from the wonderful culture and history of China, local Shanghai street food makes for a wonderful travel and culinary memories. When in Shanghai, be sure to take in this wonderful city’s street food with your local guide for an experience to truly savor.

Tour China with ChinaTours.com

A ChinaTours.com China tour package is synonymous with authentic travel experiences, taking in the best of China’s culture, history, cuisine and people. Looking for a real experience of China but don’t know how to create the perfect tour itinerary? Our dedicated team of travel consultants who know China tours will take care of every detail. Traveling to 20 unique China destinations, including Shanghai, we’ll make sure you create beautiful travel memories when you tour with us. Have a look at our Beijing tours, Chengdu Panda Tours, Taiwan tours or Hong Kong tour packages, you won’t be disappointed!

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A China tour is hardly complete if you haven’t imbibed the incredibly diverse food offerings that are available in the cities of every region.

From peking duck to dumplings , there is quite literally, a whole new world to explore.

Among the hundreds of traditional dishes, are some that you simply have to try if you’re venturing to China. A traditional Chinese hotpot is one such dish.

What is Haidilao hotpot?

Now there are hotpots – and there are Haidilao hotpots. For those just cutting their Chinese cuisine teeth, hotpot dining involves cooking raw meats, fish, tofu, vegetables, and noodles in broth or oil, which is placed at the centre of the table.

There are different soup bases: tomato, mushroom, clear oil spicy, chicken, and pickled Chinese cabbage, as well as various dishes and noodles that are cooked in the broth. Feeling hungry? Well, you get more than a meal at Haidilao.

Find the best customer service at Haidilao hotpot

Considered by locals to the best hotpot restaurant, Haidilao is not only favoured for its wonderful food. It’s also appreciated for its outstanding customer service. At a time when genuine service is a rarity anywhere in the world, Haidilao surprises and delights even those who are hard to please.

Don’t believe us? Here are just a few examples of the way Haidilao impresses its guests.

• Arrive early and waiting for your table? No problem. You’ll enjoy a free manicure or some time in one of the relaxing massage chairs found in the foyer to the restaurant.
• Cold outside? In winter, expect to be greeted with wipes to clear you classes of the fog.
• Want to avert a smartphone disaster? That’s easy. Every customer receives a zip lock bag for safe keeping of mobile phones.

It might sound over the top, but it seems like people can’t say enough good things about Haidilao.

Is it unforgettable? Well, yes, we think so. Do they provide unique and memorable customer experiences? A hundred percent.

But there’s even more to make Haidilao a place to visit.

New Beijing Haidilao restaurant is out of this world

Apart from the delicious food, a visit to Haidilao is a must if you’re a western traveler on tour in China. And although there are Haidilao restaurants all over China, if your China tour stops in Beijing , make a point of visiting their newest outlet there, located at B1-04, building E, Zhongjun World City, No. 8-9, Jinhui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

Known as a dining amusement park, this restaurant took three years to build from planning to completion and required an investment of more than 14 million US dollars.

Here’s what you’ll find there.

Haidilao’s first smart restaurant

Haidilao is definitely at the forefront of technology, making their Beijing flagship store it’s first smart restaurant. Think Jetson-style technology in a dining environment.

The Beijing restaurant has integrated an intelligent kitchen based on AI, as well as intelligent serving that helps improve food safety standards. It seems Haidilao has thought of everything because there is even ‘intelligent customization’ allowing customers to create an exclusive hotpot broth. The power to personalize is in the hands of customers who can download the Haidilao app and create an exclusive broth file for themselves and share it with family and friends.

A visit to Haidilao is more than a meal; it’s a chance to unleash your creativity.

A waiting room with a difference

While reservations for this innovative new restaurant can be made online or by telephone, there may still be a slight wait on arrival. But don’t be concerned. The standard manicure and massage have been upgraded to a super-sized screen on which an interactive game can be played. Simply enter the game by scanning the code with their Haidilao app.

Accommodating 80 people at once, the giant screen makes waiting for your dinner a truly memorable experience, especially when you’re served pre-meal snacks.

Dining that’s a total immersion experience

The experience only intensifies when you enter the restaurant. Haidilao has gone all out to create a 360 audio visual hotpot immersion experience. Six different visual themes are projected onto the walls of the restaurant. At any time you’ll be treated to rich imagery that will surely surprise and delight. Starry sky, peach garden wonderland, and snowy mountain are just a sample of what’s in store.

The future of table service

A standout feature of the Beijing Haidilao smart restaurant are the robots that deliver meals. The future of table service really is here.

Taking just three minutes from the time an order is placed on an iPad to the moment dishes arrive at the table, the intelligent service certainly is speedy.

It’s all part of the smart restaurant model where every ingredient has its own unique RFID code, which is equivalent to ‘ID card’. When guests order through the intelligent ordering system, the robot matches the dishes. Its flexible robot arm can touch the top shelf which is more than two meters high. Prepared dishes are transported to the delivery robot or ‘waiter’ standing by in the restaurant.

After collecting the meal, the robot will automatically take meals to the right table. Once this job is done, it returns to wait for it’s next task.

After the meal, or when dishes have piled up, guests can call the waiter to collect them. The robot will automatically move to the table and help staff to remove the empty dishes. When the empty disks are returned to the kitchen, it will automatically report: “Empty dishes have arrived, please take them away as soon as possible.”

Dining here isn’t all robots though. At the end of the meal, enjoy the experience of watching a noodle master performing amazing traditional noodle making techniques. It seems robots can’t handle noodles yet!

Intelligent kitchen that has no need for master chefs

Another feature of this smart restaurant is the ‘intelligent kitchen’.

All dishes are prepared in the automatically temperature controlled and super clean food warehouse environment.

Food is directly delivered to the store through specially designed logistics before entering the automatic vegetable machine. There is also a large monitoring screen in the kitchen, which is used to observe the machine’s operations. On the screen outside the pantry, the remaining dishes are monitored in real time，allowing for accurate control of food shelf life. Expired products are discarded automatically. In addition, the kitchen is also equipped with intelligent equipment, such as an automatic dishwasher and meat cutter.

What people say about Haidilao hotpot

Here are just a few comments from people who’ve loved their Haidilao experience.

When it comes to Haidilao and its customers, it seems like there are no limits to the lengths their team will go to create a comfortable, enjoyable experience.

Their premium service concept has been enhanced with advanced technologies that make a meal at Haidilao more than a dining experience.

Looking for more AI experiences in Beijing? Why not visit HEMA Fresh, the new wave in supermarkets located just ten minutes from Haidilao.

Although ChinaTours.com does not have any affiliation with Haidilao Hotpot, we share their commitment to providing exceptional customer experiences. On all our China tours, we provide our customers with the flexibility to choose their meals for lunch and dinner. This means you have the opportunity explore the fabulous dining options, which are available in every region in the country. Haidilao Hotpot is just one example, but there are many others and we’d love to share them with you. When you travel with us, part of the experience is about ensuring you achieve what you set out to do on your travel adventure – and we’re here to help make that happen. Curious and like to know more about creating beautiful travel food memories? Enquire via our contact form  and we’ll respond within 24 hours.

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Shanghai cuisine, also referred to as Benbang cuisine, balances color, aroma and taste.

While appearances may not always be appealing to a Western palate (check out Hairy Crab below) – in general, Shanghai dishes feature a comparatively sweet and light-salt flavor. By contrast to the heavy and spicy flavor prevailing in China’s north, Shanghai cuisine offers a different culinary experience. Benbang cuisine is known for its thick red oil sauce and its method of braising or stewing in soy sauce and use of sugar.

A contrast to typical Shanghai street food, traditional Shanghai cuisine is somewhat different and readily available in local restaurants. ChinaTours.com is a reputable provider of China tours, and in writing this article our local tour guides have assisted by handpicking a few famous favorites, including some must-try Shanghai cuisine dishes for those visiting this fascinating city.

Traditional Shanghai Cuisine

Shanghai Old Restaurant / 上海老饭店

Find it: 242 Fuyou Rd
Founded in 1875, Shanghai Old Restaurant is the origin of Shanghai’s Benbang cuisine and has a history of nearly 150 years, providing featured dishes such as Braised Jumbo Sea Cucumber with Shrimp Roe; Chicken, Mushroom and Ham Threads in Consomme; and Fried Shrimps.

Fu 1088 / 福1088

Find it: 375 Zhengning Rd
Located at an old foreign-style house built around the period between the 1920s or 1930s, Fu 1088 features dishes from Shanghai’s traditional wealthy and influential families. Menu highlights include Stewed Pork with Brown Sauce, Braised Noodles with Yellow Croaker and Shrimp with Mustard and Sesame.

Wang Bao He Restaurant / 王宝和

Find it: 603 Fuzhou Rd
Originally built in 1744, Wang Bao He Restaurant specializes in cooking river crabs, showcasing featured dishes such as Stewed Crab Meats with Tender Tofu, Crab Meat and Prawn Rolls, and Shrimp and Crab Cooked with Green Pepper. If you’re a seafood lover, you are guaranteed to love this form of Shanghai cuisine.

Yong Foo Elite / 雍福会 Michelin two stars

Find it: 200 Yongfu Rd
Built at the beginning of last century, the garden villa of Yong Foo Elite earns every point of its two Michelin stars. Covering an expansive area of three mus (a traditional Chinese measure of land) on which the former site for British Consulate in Shanghai was located, Yong Foo Elite features dishes such as Stewed Crab Meats with Fins, Wine Preserved Crab and Prawns in Chili Sauce. Come ready to be impressed and enjoy the top-rated Shanghai cuisine at Yong Foo Elite.

Jardin De Jade / 苏浙汇

Find it: 388 Zhaojiabang Rd
Built in 1999, Jardin De Jade brings together the dishes and flavors of Suzhou, Zhejiang and Huaiyang – all cities located within proximity of Shanghai – enhancing them to innovate traditional Shanghai cuisine. Feature dishes at Jardin De Jade include Braised Meatballs in Brown Sauce, Benbang Smoked Fish, and Steamed Reeves Shad. Ask your local guide for details on how to book a night out at this special restaurant.

Lubolang Restaurant (绿波廊)

Find it: 115 Yuyang Rd
Built during the reign of Emperor Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty, Lubolang Restaurant is a century-aged restaurant which boasts not only typical Benbang cuisines but also unique and exquisite pastries. With classical pastries available, including Flaky Pastry with Shredded Meat, Mushroom and Winter Bamboo Shoots, Osmanthus Jelly, and Pan-fried Turnip Cake, make sure you arrive ready to feast.

Looking for traditional Shanghai cuisine dishes to try?

Sample these local specialty dishes when you’re visiting Shanghai, the Pearl of the Orient

Steamed Hairy Crab （蒸毛蟹Zheng Mao Xie）

I know. It sounds more like an animated character than seasonally popular Shanghai street food dish, but Hairy Crab is virtually revered among locals who recommend steaming with ginger and serving with a dipping sauce of rice vinegar, ginger and sugar.

Can’t face the prospect of pulling apart the crab? For local Shanghai residents, it’s all part of the ritual. Ask your local guide to share their insider secrets to the best Hairy Crab street stall. They’ll take you there – and we know you’ll be happy you did.

Braised Pork Intestines with Alfalfa (草头圈子 Cao Tou Quan Zi)

For the more adventurous Shanghai visitors, a foray into the unknown sampling braised pork intestines with alfalfa could make for the ultimate food travel memory. When you’re asked Did you try any usual Shanghai food? You can give a resounding Yes! as your answer. While it may not sound appetizing, braised pork intestines with alfalfa is old Shanghai cuisine. Ask your local guide to include it on your culinary tour.

Sauteed Shelled Shrimps (炒虾仁)

For seafood lovers, sauteed shelled shrimps – or you bao xia – are a Shanghai favorite. Sauteed in oil, and flavored with ginger, chicken broth, Shaoxing wine, sugar, black vinegar, and sesame oil, this dish is unique to this region. Keen to eat like the Shanghainese? Check in with your local guide while on tour or layover for the best culinary adventure advice.

Indian Kalimeris Herb mixed with Smoked Bean Curd (马兰头拌香干)

The Shanghainese love their vegetables, so trying Indian Kalimeris Herb mixed with Smoked Bean Curd (Ma Lan Tou) is a must. Others you may want to sample include Shepherd’s Purse, Chinese Little Greens, and Shanghai rape, a type of cruciferous green vegetable.

Make your visit to Shanghai a totally memorable food experience

Apart from the wonderful culture and history of China, local traditional cuisine adds to every travel and culinary experience, whether it’s a short layover or a longer China tour. If you want to experience Shanghai’s local cuisines come with us (ChinaTours.com) on a Shanghai tour and your local bilingual guide will ensure you enjoy the different flavors which will captivate and delight you.

Are you a culture aficionado who wants an authentic experience when you travel? The team at ChinaTours.com is too. Designing small group, private and custom China tours is in our DNA. As a family owned business, we’re committed to opening up a whole new world of China to Western travelers. We focus on giving our guests a genuine experience of the history, culture, and cuisine in ways that build bridges and forge understanding between people. Ready for a China tour made of beautiful travel memories? Have a look at our carefully designed China Tour Packages, including some of our Best China tours such as Beijing tours, Chengdu tours and Yangtze River Cruises and so many more…. Also, talk to ChinaTours.com – the friendliest China tour company. Enquire now.

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Wondering what to eat for breakfast in China? Taking a China tour and confused about the food options?

That’s hardly a surprise. China is a vast country and the diversity of cultures and cuisines is one of its many distinguishing features. So how do you know what to eat?

Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even snacks in between, traveling to China is the ideal opportunity to channel your inner adventurer and eat like a local.

And there’s no reason breakfast shouldn’t be challenge or excite your palette. After all, it’s arguably the most important meal of the day – and if there’s a full day of touring on the cards, there’s even more reason to do your research. That way you’ll know what to eat for breakfast – and be well-fed for the day ahead.

Keep this list of local breakfast tips for destinations in China. It provides everything you need to know about what to eat for breakfast.

Breakfast in Beijing: Stir-fried liver / 炒肝儿

Certainly liver is not going to make it to the top of every traveler’s favorites’ list, however stir fried liver is a popular Beijing breakfast. Actually, the name is a little deceiving, because the liver is not stir fried, but boiled with pig intestine and liver, and with starch to form a thick soup.

Traditionally, fried liver is drunk directly from the bowl, rather than using a spoon and chopsticks. Traditionally, fried liver is drunk directly from the bowl, rather than using a spoon and chopsticks. So if you see someone enjoying their stir-fried liver with chopsticks and spoon, then there’s a very good change that they’re not from Beijing.

Breakfast in Xi’an: Rougamo or Chinese hamburger / 肉夹馍

Xi’an is one of China’s lively cities and the food found in this part of Shaanxi province has a reputation that precedes it. It’s Xi’an where you’ll find the Roujiamo or Rougamo, otherwise considered the Chinese equivalent of a hamburger. Essentially strips of beautifully tender ‘fatty’ meat served in a crispy bun, it’s difficult to eat just one. The rougamo originates in Shaanxi, but it is popular all over China. Regardless of where your China tour takes you, you almost certainly find this hearty breakfast from the early hours in every city. It has truly become a real national breakfast.

Breakfast in Shanghai, Suzhou + Hangzhou: Soup buns / 灌汤包

Like the rougamo from Xi’an, you’ll find many versions of the ‘soup bun’, which has its origins in Shanghai, and Suzhou and Hangzhou close by. The name soup bun describes the way the dumpling is filled with meat and broth. Eating these delicious morsels is a bit like combining noodles, meat and soup – three staples of Chinese cuisine. Be sure to order plenty, because one or two just won’t be enough.

More breakfast in Shanghai, Suzhou + Hangzhou: Pan-Fried Bun / 生煎

With a ‘bun-heavy’ breakfast menu, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Chinese are obsessed with loading ‘carbs’ early on in the day. The pan-fried buns of Shanghai (Suzhou and Hangzhou) only reinforce this idea.

Fried buns have a crisp bottom and are typically sprinkled with shallots. Perfect In the middle of winter, freshly fried buns are perfect for keeping out the cold.

Breakfast in Xiamen: Sha Cha Noodle / 沙茶面

History would have us believe sha cha sauce is an earlier version of satay sauce – and this is possibly true. Sha Cha originated in Xiamen in China’s Fujian province and many people from this region made their way to Malaysia, taking the delicious Sha Cha sauce with them.

Sha Cha noodles are simple to make. Simply prepare your noodles in boiling water and when ready, add them to a bowl. Choose from pork liver, pork loin, duck tendon, large intestine, fresh squid, dried tofu and other ingredients according to your taste. Finally, pour the soup over the ingredients in the soup bowl and serve immediately.

Breakfast in Guangzhou: Steamed vermicelli roll / 肠粉

Steamed rice vermicelli rolls are made by rolling a strip of flat shahe fen and then rolling it with meat, vegetables, shrimp, and other delicious ingredients. Also known as scrambled vermicelli, this dish is hugely popular on Guangzhou mornings, so much so that many outlets that serve them often run out of supplies. Lovers of the steamed vermicelli roll are a dedicated bunch. They’ll often be found queuing up to place their order, so make sure you’re up early if you plan on trying steamed vermicelli rolls on your China tour.

Breakfast in Guilin: Rice noodles / 米粉

Guilin is famous for its rice noodles, so it’s no surprise to find that rice noodles are recommended for breakfast here. So what’s the method for rice noodles Guilin-style?

First, the rice noodles are warmed in boiling water, then the guo shao (fried crispy streaky pork), marinated beef jerky, sausage, barbecue, are added, together with brine, peanut oil, crispy soybeans, pepper, garlic, chopped spring onions and pickled vegetables. Guilin rice noodles are certainly a flavor and colour sensation.

Breakfast in Yunnan: Rice-flour noodles / 米线

Rice noodles are a classic of Yunnan food culture. They are a staple at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and for snacks in between. They’re even eaten either hot or cold. So if you’re traveling to Yunnan on your China tour, a Yunnan rice noodle feast is a must.

Breakfast in Chongqing + Chengdu: Hot and Sour Rice Noodles / 酸辣粉

Chongqing and Chengdu have more in common than being located in Sichuan province. They’re also famous for the hot and sour noodles which originated in the region. Hot and sour noodles are handmade sweet potato noodles served with a variety of ingredients. They are so named because of the combination of hot and sour flavors. After being refined and perfected over time, you’ll find hot and sour noodles available as popular street food in Sichuan province, including for breakfast.

More breakfast in Chongqing + Chengdu: Chao Shou / 抄手

So what if hot and sour noodles aren’t your thing? There’s no need for concern. In Chongqing and Chengdu, you can eat breakfast like a local and savor the taste of the famous local chao shou – or chili oil wonton.

Yes, wontons are made all over China, however the chili oil chao shou is one of the most famous varieties. Filled with meat and resembling the appearance of two folded arms (hence the name), chao shou are served in soup or chili oil. Like many dishes in Chengdu, it’s wise to eat with caution, or the chili may get the best of you!

Breakfast in Urumqi: Naan Bread / 馕

Urumqi is an iconic destination located on the famous Silk Road and naan bread is a Xinjiang style ‘pancake’  that is a symbol of the region.

Naan bread  is made from dough incorporating a little salt water, yeast and flour. Dough is worked out by hand into a round disc shape, brushed with mutton oil, sprinkled with sesame seeds and then baked on hot bricks or in an oven.

There are numerous varieties of naan bread – supposedly up to 50 different types. We’ve listed just a couple here, but you’ll find many more on the streets of Urumqi.

Naan bread made with mutton oil is called oil naan, while naan baked with minced mutton, cumin, pepper and onion is called meat naan. Naan baked with sesame and grape juice is called sesame naan. Can’t decide which one is right for you? Why not try them all!

Breakfast in Lan Zhou: Hand-pulled noodle soup with beef / 牛肉拉面

Like so many things in China, the hand-pulled noodle soup has origins that date back many centuries. In fact, it is said the hand-pulled noodle soup with beef originated during the Tang Dynasty and if you’re eating it for breakfast, you’re probably not far from Lan Zhou, located on the Silk Road.

Appreciated throughout China and the world for its unique flavor, the soup is described as being clear as a mirror with meat that is fragrant and falls apart, while the noodles are thin and delicate.

Start your day in Lanzhou with hand-pulled noodle soup with beef and it’s likely you won’t feel the need for anything more during the day.

 A final word on what to eat for breakfast in China

The truth is there are so many iconic dishes that make up the richly diverse cuisines of China. The best way to pick your favourite breakfast dish (or dishes!) is to explore the many tastes while on your China tour. Our local bilingual guides will always be there to help you decide if stopping by a local snack street vendor is right, or sitting down with locals at a restaurant will work for you. And you never need to be concerned about what to choose. They’ll help you order too.

ChinaTours.com is dedicated to helping western travelers enjoy a genuine experience of China, including savoring the interesting and exotic tastes from around the country. All our China tours offer a balance of structure and flexibility, including our meals. While breakfast is included in our tour packages, there are many opportunities for choosing your own food with lunches and dinners left to you. Our local guides are knowledgeable and caring and provide advice on the best places to experience the cuisine of each China destination. Keen to know more? Enquire via our contact form and we’ll respond within 24 hours. We’d love to create a China culinary experience you’ll remember always.

The post What to eat for breakfast in China: Enjoy the most important meal of the day and eat like a local appeared first on China Tours.

When traveling in China, you should definitely make sure you go on a Xi’an tour as not only does Xi’an city have a fascinating history, but it also has exquisite Shaanxi food. Shaanxi food is said to be the tastiest way to get transported back to ancient China, and we couldn’t agree more.

Shaanxi food characterizes in aromatic, tasty, and spicy dishes, with heavy ingredients such as lamb, beef, garlic, onion, vinegar, and is strongly influenced by Islamic cuisine, thanks to the large Muslim community in the area.

Shaanxi food

For those on a Xi’an tour for the first time,  exploring Chinese cuisines, Shaanxi food is a good entry point. The wide array of noodles, bread, and dumplings are a culinary delight for locals and tourists alike.

Wondering which Shaanxi food you must try on your multi-day China tour? Keep reading, and find out all about the old and new of Shaanxi cuisine.

Shaanxi cuisine, a rich culinary history

The culinary history of Shaanxi cuisine is one of the world’s longest, and one of the richest too. According to written materials, the first major features of Shaanxi cuisine, such as its diverse ingredients, refined cutting and cooking techniques, and rich flavors, could be traced back to as early as the West Zhou Dynasty, a few thousand years ago.

Shaanxi cooking took on more of a scientific approach from the early Qin Dynasty onwards. Especially Master Lu’s Spring and Autumn Annals, one of the core Chinese classics, had a profound influence on the further development of Shaanxi cuisine. In that time, Xi’an became China’s very first capital, giving Shaanxi cuisine an enormous popularity boost.

Once the starting point of the Silk Road, Shaanxi cuisine has been shaped by a range of cultures and religions, with Islamic influence being particularly strong. In fact, the consumption of beef and lamb in Shaanxi is much higher than in any other place in China.

The strong and heavy flavors of Shaanxi food

Compared to other Chinese cuisines, Shaanxi dishes have strong and heavy flavors. Shaanxi cooks love to spice things up, with ingredients such as garlic, onion, chili, ginger, and cumin. Vinegar is also a Shaanxi favorite, while sugar is only used sparingly to improve a dish’s umami taste.

Rain isn’t abundant on the Guanzhong Plain, which makes wheat the main crop in the Shaanxi region. That’s why Shaanxi people go crazy for noodles, especially the hand-pulled Biang Biang Mian (or trouser belt noodles). When it comes to noodles, the motto in Shaanxi is: the bigger, the better! In fact, many Shaanxi signature dishes are characterized by colossal noodles, the size of a belt, however no less delicious than their smaller counterparts.

Another notable Shaanxi dishes is Calabash chicken (or Huluji), a lightly breaded and fried chicken dish and an absolute local’s favorite. You might also want to try sour and spicy pork sauce noodles (Saozi Mian), famous for its five features: thin, chewy, hot, sour, and fragrant.

Or how about a Chinese hamburger (or Roujiamo)? It’s like a regular hamburger, but with a much longer history. The perfect Roujiamo is made with traditionally baked leavened bread, pocketed with shredded meat that has been braised for hours. Locals usually have Roujiamo with Liangpi (or cold noodles). The most basic way to serve cold noodles is drizzled with a sauce of chili oil, pepper, vinegar, garlic, and topped with bean sprouts and sliced cucumber.

When in Xi’an, do as the Xi’anese do

One typically Shaanxi street food that’s worth trying is Chuan’r, or kebab. Though common throughout China, the best way to enjoy Chuan’r is by sharing them with friends, while drinking a beer late at night, at an outdoor night stall in Xi’an.

Since you’re in Xi’an already, why not try an aromatic, tasty, and spicy bowl of Yangrou Paomo? Yanrou Paomo is Xi’an’s signature dish of shredded flatbread soaked in mutton broth. Eating it can be a uniquely relaxing experience. That is if you do it the right way.

Here’s how to do it:

You’ll be served two pieces of flatbread in a bowl, and it’s your job to tear the bread into small pieces. A tiresome task, but totally worth it according to the locals. Next, you sit down with the locals and trade gossip, while your flatbread crumbles are being cooked in mutton soup with rice noodles. Once the bits of bread a fully soaked in soup and flavor, the stew will be topped with slices of lamb or beef of your choice. Finally, pickled sweet garlic is added to complete the dish.

Tour Xi’an with ChinaTours.com

Is your mouth is watering already? Why not book one of our many Xi’an tours. Discover the ancient former capital of China, with its melting pot of cultures, and experience the richly cultural Shaanxi cuisine that comes with it. Book online or talk to one of our China tour experts today.

Feeling the travel bug and think a China tour might fix it? There’s no better place to start than by connecting with a China travel agency who can provide you with an experience of the real China. Traveling to 20 unique and exciting destinations, including Zhangjiajie, Xi’an, and the Silk Road, ChinaTours.com, combined with the option of small group, private and custom tours, we’ve designed our China tours to meet the needs of people who enjoy structure and flexibility when they travel. 

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If you’ve ever been to a Chinese restaurant outside of China, it’s likely you’ve already experienced eating Cantonese food – or at least some variety of it.

Authentic Cantonese cuisine is famous for its mild, fresh, and natural flavors, innovative ingredients, and exquisite cooking techniques. It’s even considered China’s most exquisite cuisine.

But what is it about Cantonese cuisine that sets it apart from China’s other regional cuisines? Let’s deep dive into the short but rich history of Cantonese food.

Cantonese food and cuisine

China’s “haute cuisine”

Cantonese cuisine is considered the “haute cuisine” of China and originates from the province of Guangdong. The Cantonese are very fortunate to live in an area with such abundant rainfall and a warm tropical climate. Guangdong Province is known for its agriculture, and there are plenty of pig and poultry farms in the area. Lush rice paddies are scattered all throughout the Pearl River Delta.

Located on the Pearl River, Guangdong province’s capital Guangzhou makes an excellent seaport through which many foreign ingredients are imported from other countries. Inventive as the Cantonese are, they are happy to incorporate these non-native ingredients into their cuisine.

A short but rich history of Cantonese food

Though having only a short history, Cantonese cuisine has made quite the international impact. Chinese immigrants, many of them from Cantonese origin, are spread throughout the world and introduced their beloved cuisine to every corner of the planet.

Unfortunately, Cantonese immigrants have been struggling to reproduce their native cuisine in a foreign land, resulting in the “pseudo-Chinese” cuisine we know today.

Although these not-quite-authentic Chinese dishes may not be part of the ancient Chinese food culture, they are authentic products of the Chinese immigrant experience, yielding diverse takes on Chinese food tweaked for local palettes.

The mild, fresh, and natural flavors of Cantonese cuisine

The hallmark of Cantonese cuisine is preserving the natural flavors of the food. A Cantonese cook knows fresh is best, and goes all the way to make sure your meal isn’t overcooked or too heavily seasoned. Amongst the varied cooking techniques, steaming and braising are a Cantonese cook’s favorite.

Fresh fish and shellfish, beef, chicken, pork, rice, tropical fruits, and a wide array of fresh vegetables are common ingredients in Cantonese food, which makes for mild, fresh, naturally flavored meals. Notable Cantonese dishes include sliced boiled chicken (Baiqieji), roasted suckling pig (Kaoruzhu), and black chicken soup (Wujitang).

The Cantonese believe that food is delicious as it is, so almost no additional seasoning is added. However, no Cantonese kitchen would be complete without a bottle of oyster sauce and hoisin sauce. Spices such as ginger, chives, black pepper, and anise also figure prominently in Cantonese cooking.

Keep in mind, though, the Cantonese are very open-minded when it comes to ingredients. Don’t be surprised if you end up ordering a dish that contains snake, cat, or even dog! Being a late bloomer, Cantone cuisine is an infusion of the best of other cuisines all around the world. Throughout the centuries, Cantonese cuisine has gradually formed its own signature taste, which has captivated the palates everywhere.

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Curious to try authentic Cantonese food? Experience Cantonese cuisine firsthand, either dining in or learning Cantonese cooking yourself, on one of our China tours to “China’s Southern Gateway” Guangzhou. Book online, or talk to one of our experts to book your China tour package.

Looking for flexible China tour package options? ChinaTours.com can help, as our tours are designed to be flexible. We understand not everyone travels the same way. Some explorers enjoy their independence. Others like to travel with a small group. The good news is the best China tours do both. Flexible travel options mean you can join a group tour for part of a tour and then travel independently to other destinations in China. And we can arrange every detail. Want to know more? Contact us today!

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For centuries, the influence of Chinese food has made its way around the globe. The country’s cuisine is incredibly popular everywhere you go, and lovers of Chinese food are well being catered for with different options ranging from Chinese street food to boutique Chinese restaurants.

Experience Chinese food in China

Still, the best way to experience authentic Chinese cuisine is by going to China. You would be surprised by how many remarkable dishes and exotic ingredients you will come across.

Want to travel China seeking out the spiciest soups, best bamboo-pounded noodles, and crispiest duck? Here’s how you can eat like a local in China.

What the Chinese locals eat

A well-known Chinese joke is that the Chinese eat everything with four legs, except tables, anything that flies, except for an airplane, and anything that swims, except for a submarine. Though exaggerated, it vividly demonstrates the variety of ingredients found in Chinese cuisine.

When in China, take a good look at your plate. You’ll see that Chinese dishes are perfectly prepared, with vivid colors, rich flavors, and exquisite tastes. Chefs carefully cut and carve the different ingredients to make your plate look like a piece of art.

Another look at your plate, and you’ll most likely find either rice or noodles as part of your dish. These staple foods are probably the most famous and frequently used ingredients in the Chinese kitchen.

Chinese people eat rice or noodles almost every day, but if you think that makes Chinese food is boring, think again! China’s different regions all have their very own distinct regional cuisine. Let’s take a look.

The culinary traditions of Chinese cuisine

China is an ancient civilization with a long history of over 5000 years. Throughout the centuries, China has established an authentic food culture, with its very own unique dining etiquette. One that foreign visitors may consider quite different from what they’re used to.

Chinese food has five key flavors that must be balanced according to traditional Chinese medicine, namely sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy. Flavors vary by region, all influenced by the geographical location, available resources, cultural customs, and cooking techniques.

Chinese food can be divided into the following eight distinguished regional cuisines.

Simple Shandong cuisine

Simplicity is key in Shandong cuisine (or Lu cuisine), one of the most prevalent cuisines in China, and popular in northeast China, Beijing, and Tianjin. Shandong cuisine specializes in simple dishes, highlighting the original flavors of the ingredients. Making soups and soup dishes is this region’s forte.

Spicy Sichuan cuisine

Universally famous for being spicy-hot, the Sichuan cuisine (or Chuan cuisine) uses chilis, peppers, and over 40 different cooking techniques to spice things up in the kitchen. Classical Sichuan dishes include Mapo Tofu, Kung Pao Chicken, and boiled pork slices.

Exquisite Cantonese cuisine

Originating from China’s Guangdong Province, Cantonese cuisine (or Yue cuisine) is almost considered a work of art. Think dishes with fresh and tender taste, full of exotic and innovative ingredients, prepared by excellent chefs.

Mountain-style Fujian cuisine

Fujian chefs are renowned for their masterly cutting skills, endeavoring to highlight the original flavors of the used ingredients. Fujian dishes are light and fresh and vary from mouthwatering mountain delicacies to steamy seafood. Fujian cuisine (or Min cuisine) also offers a dazzling variety of soup dishes.

Fresh Jiangsu cuisine

Dishes from the Su cuisine, short for Jiangsu cuisine, are fresh, with a moderately sweet taste. The Jiangsu cooking style is distinguished by crafty cutting and carving techniques, and an elegant appearance. Our personal favorites are Jinling Salted Duck, Liangxi Crisp Eel, and Braised Mandarin Fish in Shape of Squirrel.

Rich Zhejiang cuisine

Zhejiang Province, along the eastern coastline of China, is known as the land of the plenty thanks to its countless fish farms, myriad mountain delicacies, and abundant freshwater foods. Zhejiang cuisine (or Zhe cuisine) is known for its alluring aesthetics, tender taste, and rich cultural connotation.

Hot Hunan cuisine

Hot, hotter, hottest! Hunan people love their chilis, thus it’s no surprise that half of a Hunan dish consists of chili. However, it’s not just the spicy taste that makes Hunan cuisine (or Xiang cuisine) so distinctive. Its rich colors and thick oils will make your mouth water just as much.

Original Anhui cuisine

Anhui people value the freshness and original flavor of their ingredients. Anhui cuisine (or Hui cuisine) cooking style emphasizes the use of heat, favoring techniques such as stewing, steaming, and braising. The strictly controlled cooking process is what sets the Anhui cuisine apart from other regional cuisines in China.

Other regional Chinese cuisines

Besides the eight culinary traditions of Chinese cuisine, there are many other famous local cuisines to be found throughout the country. Looking for examples of Chinese food, here’s a short list:

• Beijing cuisine
• Shaanxi cuisine
• Taiwan cuisine
• Northern Minority cuisine
• Southern Minority cuisine

Chinese food traditions

Chinese cuisine is deeply rooted in Chinese tradition and religion. China is a multi-religious country, and each religion comes with its own culinary customs.

With Buddhists making up the largest religious communities in China, and main ingredients of Chinese cuisine being noodles or rice, tofu, and fresh vegetables, it’s not that hard to be a vegetarian in China. Vegetarian food is widely available in Chinese restaurants however you should be very clear and specific about what you don’t eat.

Given the large Muslim population in China, halal food is also fairly easy to find. Chinese halal foods is an infusion of original Middle Eastern and traditional Chinese flavors, characterized by the use of wheat products, sweet flavors, and chicken, beef and lamb.

All these different religions in China have their own different festivals and special occasions, and preparing and eating food is an important part of a celebration.

Eating dumplings, for instance, is an important part of the Chinese Spring Festival. An ancient Chinese tale even tells us, the more dumplings you eat on Spring Festival Eve, the more money you will make in the New Year!

And did you know eating noodles is a birthday must in China? Long noodles are a symbol of longevity. The longer the noodles are, the more promising.

Need to balance your qi after all those celebrations? Try some chicken and ginger soup, a Chinese medicinal dish. Healing herbs or animal parts have been added to the Chinese diet to heal disease since ancient times. It is said that each food item’s temperature and flavor influences the body in its own way, and taking too much of one type of food can cause an imbalance.

Dining etiquette in China

Chinese people pay great attention to etiquette and customs, so before you visit a Chinese family or restaurant it’s good to learn a thing or two about Chinese dining etiquette. Pay attention to what your host is doing and show good table manners.

Tour the Real China with ChinaTours.com

Excited to taste authentic Chinese food? Our wide variety of China tours combines the most fascinating destinations with exquisite Chinese cuisine in carefully selected restaurants.

ChinaTours.com also offers you the possibility to have a genuine family dinner with a local Chinese family. Talk to our China tour experts or book your China experience online.

A small group, private or custom tour is the ideal way to experience China when you travel with the friendliest China tour company. Arranging specialized inbound China tours for over ten years, we understand the importance of providing comfort, safety, and a real experience of China. What makes ChinaTours.com different? Our small group focus. We can even arrange private tours for any of twenty unique China destinations, such as Beijing tours, the Yangtze Tours, and Taiwan tours. 

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Zhejiang is a seafood lover’s dream come true. Zhejiang cuisine (or Zhe Cuisine) boasts exquisite seafood dishes and is ranked as one of the eight major cuisines in China.

The extensive variety of seafood dishes is the main allure of Zhejiang cuisine, although most foreign travelers find the artistic refinement attractive as well. Zhejiang is known as a wealthy and sophisticated province, and its elegant cuisine truly reflects that.

Zhejiang cuisine

Looking for a sophisticated seafood dining experience? Why not join us on a Hangzhou tour, the picturesque capital of Zhejiang, and enjoy fine dining in our carefully selected restaurants.

But before you go, let’s dive into the rich culinary history of Zhejiang.

Zhejiang province, the land of fish and rice

Zhejiang province has been known as the land of fish and rice since ancient times. According to written records, Zhejiang cuisine dates all the way back to the Hemudu Culture in the Neolithic Age and took further shape in the period between the Han Dynasty and Tang Dynasty. (202 BC – 907 AD).

Its coastal location makes for an abundance of fish and seafood, with over 500 different nutritious and unique species. Further inland, the southwestern highlands are rich with mountain delicacies, while the northern part of the province offers plenty of freshwater foods.

With such a rich variety of resources, it’s easy to carefully select the most exquisite ingredients for high-quality Zhejiang dishes. Zhejiang cooks prefer using seasonal ingredients to ensure freshness, and to highlight the natural flavors.

Zhejiang cuisine is worldwide renowned for its many different cooking techniques. Zhejiang cooks are particularly good at sautéing, frying, stewing, stir-frying, steaming, or roasting the ingredients in a way that preserves and enhances the original flavors of the ingredients. The same goes for seasoning.

The four famous local cuisines of Zhejiang province

Zhejiang cuisine can easily be divided into the following four local cuisines:

Hangzhou cuisine

Since becoming the province capital, Hangzhou cuisine has become quite popular. Hangzhou food features freshness and lightness. Stir-fried, steamed, or pot-roasted dishes, elegantly displayed on your plate. The story goes that Hangzhou cooks include bamboo shoots in at least half of their dishes.

Ningbo cuisine

Ningbo cuisine features fresh and salty seafood, with an emphasis on the original flavor of the carefully selected ingredients. Ningbo cooks have their own unique way of quick-frying, stir-frying, deep-frying, simmering, and steaming to make sure the food is tender and fresh.

Shaoxing cuisine

Have a taste of the rural charm of Shaoxing. Shaoxing cuisine boasts mild and refreshing flavors and includes fresh ingredients such as fish, shrimp, poultry, beans, bamboo shoots, and many more. Raw ingredients are usually steamed or stewed with the famous Shaoxing rice wine.

Wenzhou cuisine

With over 30 different cooking methods and more than 250 seafood dish varieties, Wenzhou cuisine is anything but boring. Wenzhou locals have very special ways of preparing and their seafood. For instance, drying fresh yellowfin tuna, soaking jellyfish, or eating live shrimp with a hint of local rice wine, sugar, and ginger. Wenzhou cooks place great importance on the art of cutting food, and an aesthetically pleasing result.

The many legends of Zhejiang cuisine

Many Zhejiang dishes have an alluring story to tell, from the steamed grass carp in vinegar gravy to the beggar’s chicken. Here from all the options that Zheijiang cuisine has to offer are four of the best legendary Zhejiang dishes (not just seafood, but also pork and chicken) that are worth a try:

Steamed grass carp in vinegar (Xihu Cuyu)

Steamed grass carp in vinegar is known as the most famous dish in the Hangzhou area. The taste of the fish is tender and goes really well with the sharp sweet and sour, vinegar-based sauce. The story goes that before cooking, a fresh alive grass carp is kept hungry in clear water for two days for cleansing, before being cut in half from head to tail (but not separated), delicately poached, and then served eyes-up.

Dongpo pork (Dongporou)

Whilst seafood is a major part of Zhejiang cuisine, the area also has some delicious meat dishes including Dongpo pork.  Dongpo pork is braised pork belly, made from half fatty, and half lean pork belly meat braised with a lot of Shaoxing rice wine. Legend says, the dish is named after a revered poet, calligrapher, and artist from the Song Dynasty, Su Dongpo, who is supposed to have invented, or at least inspired Dongpo pork as we know it.

Beggar’s chicken (Jiaohua Ji)

Did you know it can take six hours to prepare a single serving of Beggar’s chicken? Beggar’s chicken is chicken that is stuffed, wrapped in clay, and slowly baked at low heat. Rumour has it, a beggar stole a chicken from a farm. However, he didn’t have any pots or utensils, so he improvised. He wrapped the chicken in lotus leaves, encased it in mud, and buried it in a hole in the ground where he had lit a fire. After a while, he dug up the chicken and cracked open the mud, which revealed a delicious roasted chicken inside.

Stir-Fried shrimps with Longjing tea (Longjing Xiaren)

Stir-fried shrimps with Longjing tea is a delicacy originating from Hangzhou. It’s an elegant looking dish, with white and green colors, and light and fragrant flavors. Legend has it, an imperial chef mistakenly dropped some Longjing tea leaves while stir-frying shrimp for the emperor. A classic Zhejiang dish was born.

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Want to experience the legendary flavors of Zhejiang cuisine? Our Hangzhou Tours cover the area’s highlights and give you the opportunity to explore the true taste of its exquisite cuisine. Book online or talk to our China tour experts today.

Looking for flexible China tour package options? ChinaTours.com can help. Our tours are designed to be flexible. We understand not everyone travels the same way. Some explorers enjoy their independence. Others like to travel with a group. The good news is the best China tours do both. Flexible travel options mean you can join a group tour for part of a tour and then travel independently to other destinations in China. And we can arrange every detail. Want to know more? Enquire now.

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How do you come up with a list of just 10 popular Chinese dishes in a country with the diverse tastes and cultures of China?

With over 30 different provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, and multiple ethnic groups, it’s not easy. We do have an advantage though, ChinaTours.com provides popular tours throughout China and our outstanding local guides have helped put this list together sharing a few of their favorites among China’s myriad of delicious specialties.

List of most popular Chinese dishes

Want to eat like an emperor on your China tour? Sample at least one or two popular Chinese dishes from this carefully curated list of the top 10 and you’ll wonder why China’s fabulous food has been kept a secret so long.

1. Dongpo Rou (Bouilli)

The poet Su Dongpo was made namesake of the dish Dongpo Rou, nearly a thousand years ago! And while Dongpo Rou maintains these fairly illustrious origins, over the centuries, this dish’s name has changed from province to province. In spite of the different interpretations, the elements of Dongpo Rou, or Bouilli, remain the same.

A premium pork belly, prepared in the traditional red cooking style, Dongpo Rou’s flavor comes from the tantalizing aroma of the brown sugar, soy, and wine special sauce. Slowly stewed in this sauce, these flavors delightfully balance the meat’s lean and fat elements, creating a truly mouth-watering experience.

Now that’s a mouthful!

2. Wonton

Who doesn’t love a wonton? Those lovely soft, yet firm delicate bundles of flavor. Steamed, fried, or floating in broth, wontons are heartwarming and a staple in Chinese cuisine. Good enough to include in our list of the 10 most popular Chinese dishes.

Surprisingly, the humble wonton goes by many names, with each variation offering a unique flavor sensation reflecting the diversity of China’s many regions. Simple in form and filling, a wonton wrapper is made of premium flour through a process of fermentation and kneading. Made special with plentiful fillings, such as pork and other ground meats, shrimp, and fresh vegetables, there is a wonton for every taste.

Looking for a special kind of wonton? Try the chāo shǒu or ‘folded arms’ wonton from the Sichuan province, so named for the impression it gives of crossed arms, with its corners folded toward its center before cooking.

No matter where your journey takes you throughout China, you’ll always have ample opportunities to savor this popular Chinese morsel.

3. Dumpling

A close cousin to the wonton, Chinese dumplings enjoy a history spanning nearly 2000 years. Apart from being made famous by dumpling lovers, Kung Fu Panda, dumplings truly are one of the most popular Chinese dishes and rightly deserve a spot among the top ten.

Consumed during festivals, particularly the Spring Festival and Winter Solstice, all of China shares in this symbolic delicacy. With links to good fortune and good health, we can understand why. Variety is key with Chinese dumplings. Find them stuffed with sugar, peanut, date or walnut. You may find yourself changing flavor on your China tour. Why? Well those who eat one with sugar, expect a happier life in the future. Eat date or walnut dumplings and you could be lining up for a beautiful healthy baby. More of a peanut dumpling lover. Expect good health and long life.

4. Mapo Tofu

Typically Sichuan (code for hot and spicy), like many other popular Chinese dishes, Mapo Tofu has a story to it.

Legend has it, that Chen Mapo, owner of a Sichuan province restaurant in Chengdu, earned the name for her dish because of the distinctive freckles or Mazi on her face. Mapo Tofu’s long history – Chen Mapo lived at the time of the early Qing Dynasty (mid-1600) – continues today with locals and people all over China now enjoying this dish.

No China tour is complete without a taste of spicy Sichuan food, so why not start with Mapo Tofu. It’s hard to go past the fresh and tender tofu drizzled with a spicy chili sauce made of ground meat, wild peppers, and a broad bean paste. Each bite of tender tofu and savory minced meat combine to fascinate and enthrall the pallet. The Sichuan Sauce? It’s Delicious!

5. Century Eggs

Century Eggs make it to #5 on our top 10 list. An exceptional and fragrant dish, famous among the locals of Henan, read on to learn why.

The Century Egg is a Chinese preserved delicacy prepared by curing quail, chicken, or duck eggs in a blend of cement and rice hulls for up to 12 months. Changing the color and the texture of the egg yolk, to be nearly translucent, the flavor of the eggs is sweet and comparable to a hard-boiled egg, only softer, with a strong aroma.

Visually, Century Eggs look more like exotic jellies than Chinese delicacies. Ideal for the culinary adventurer!

6. Sautéed Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin

Western travelers in China could be forgiven for thinking they’ll finally have the opportunity to try ‘real’ Sautéed Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin (or sweet and sour pork). And you very well could on your China tour.

Considered to be the most popular Chinese dish in the world, Sautéed Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin, or Tangcu Liji, finds itself on menus all across the country, highlighting the versatility and regional flare from each province.

Built around the core ingredients of delicious pork tenderloin, along with sugar and vinegar, this dish has a very distinctive flavor. Combining sweet with sour, the irresistible taste of that crispy coating and tender meat will give your palate a rollercoaster ride of flavors. Popular in China and beyond, the sweet and sour flavor has made its way into many alternative dishes, such as Sweet and Sour Whole Fish (Tangcu Quanyu) and Sweet and Sour Ribs (Tangcu Paigu).

An absolute must-give-it-a-go dish!

7. Sautéed Diced Chicken with Peanuts and Chili

Sautéed diced chicken with peanuts and chili, or Kung Pao Chicken, is certainly a famous Chinese dish at home and abroad. Countless restaurants in America, the U.K., and Australia are selling Kung Pao Chicken. However, few can replicate the stir-fried succulent chicken with peanuts, cucumber, and hot pepper that China has brought together to conceive this outstanding dish.

On a China tour? Add this to your most popular Chinese dishes list.

8. Chow Mein

Stir-fried noodles? Chow Mein? Count you in, right?

A dish common among the locals of Northern China, and now the rest of the world, this dish of thin noodles made from a fine bean and cornflour dough, is often accompanied by a delicious yet affordable medley of egg, sliced meats, and an abundance of Chinese vegetables.

Be sure to ask your local guide for their best Chow Mein tip. Found in most restaurants across Northern China, you’ll want more than Chow Mein. You’ll be ready to chow down!

9. Peking Duck

Experience the authentic Beijing cuisine that is Peking duck, renowned worldwide as an exquisite dish, fit for an Empress, and not surprisingly one of the most popular Chinese dishes.

Invented during the Ming Dynasty, the Peking duck was a royal delicacy. In keeping with tradition, only the very best duck is chosen and roasted by fire. The tender, moist meat is covered by crispy, chewy skin. While being rich in fats, Peking Duck tends not to be overly greasy.

Along with sliced shallots, delicate pancakes made of millet flour, and a fermented flour sweet sauce, Peking Duck is a sensational culinary experience to try while visiting China.

10. Spring Rolls

Traditionally a Chinese food common to China’s Southern provinces, spring rolls consist of sheets of dough and assorted fillings, including pork paste, peanuts, sugar, jujube paste, and sweetened bean paste to list but a few. Shallow fried until gold and crispy. The spring roll is a staple, containing a rich variety of nutritional fats, proteins, and carbohydrates with both locals and tourists adoring this dish. Worthy of its place in the 10 most popular Chinese dishes? You bet.

Tour with ChinaTours.com

What’s on the menu for your China Tour? The flexibility and freedom provided by ChinaTours.com mean that every traveler can experience a real taste of China. Talk to your local guide and take advantage of the free choice of lunch and dinner options to sample any or all of these top 10 most popular Chinese dishes.

Are you a culture aficionado who wants an authentic experience when you travel? The team at ChinaTours.com is too. Designing small group China tours, private and custom China tours is in our DNA. As a family-owned business, we’re committed to opening up a whole new world of China to Western travelers. We focus on giving our guests a genuine experience of the history, culture, and cuisine of China and the surrounding region in ways that build bridges and forge understanding between people. Ready for a China tour package made of beautiful travel memories? Talk to ChinaTours.com – the friendliest China tour company.

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