Eating in China, region by region
“Chinese food” abroad is one cuisine. In China it is at least eight, and they disagree about almost everything — including what a dumpling is.
The five you will actually meet
| Where | Eat this | Spice |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Peking duck, zhajiang noodles, dumplings | Mild |
| Xi’an | Biangbiang noodles, roujiamo, yangrou paomo | Medium — chilli oil, not heat |
| Chengdu | Mapo tofu, hotpot, dan dan noodles | Hot: 微辣 is still hot |
| Guangzhou | Dim sum, roast goose, congee | Mild — this is the gentle one |
| Yunnan | Rice noodles, wild mushrooms, cured ham | Medium, with herbs |
If someone in your group does not eat spicy food, Guangdong and Beijing are your safety nets. Sichuan is not negotiable — the wok itself is seasoned with chilli.
How to order without speaking Chinese
- We send a card with your allergies and preferences in Chinese; you show it, and it works in every restaurant we use.
- 不辣 (bù là) means not spicy. 微辣 (wēi là) means “a little” — in Chengdu that is still hot.
- Vegetarian is understood but not traditional: expect 素 (sù) dishes to be vegetable-only but possibly cooked in meat stock. Say 全素 (quán sù) for strict.
- Breakfast is the meal people underestimate. Hotel buffets solve it; street breakfast in Xi’an is better.
The meals worth planning a day around
A Cantonese dim sum morning in Guangzhou, a hotpot dinner in Chengdu, Peking duck in Beijing, and a bowl of crossing-the-bridge noodles in Kunming. These are the four we build itineraries around, not the four we squeeze in.
Water, ice and the usual question
Tap water is not drinkable; bottled water is cheap and everywhere. Ice in hotels and reputable restaurants is fine, in street stalls it is a gamble. Nobody on our trips has been ill from the food we recommend — because we recommend restaurants we eat in ourselves.
Can you handle allergies?
Yes — nuts, shellfish, gluten and dairy are all workable with the Chinese-language card we provide. Severe allergies need a conversation before booking.
Is there vegetarian food?
Yes, but you must say 全素 for strict vegetarian. Buddhist restaurants near temples are the best bet.
Will children eat it?
Usually — noodles, dumplings and rice cover most of it, plus a hotel breakfast.
Is street food safe?
The busy stalls with high turnover, yes. We point out which ones.
Can we do a cooking class?
Yes, in Chengdu (Sichuan), Xi’an (dumplings) and Yangshuo (Guangxi home cooking).
Tell us your dates and we will build it
You get a written itinerary and a line-by-line price within 24 hours. Nothing is charged until you approve it.