Every Region Has a Distinct Flavor Profile
Chinese food varies as dramatically between cities as European cuisines vary between countries. If you cannot handle chili spice, head south to Guangzhou and Hong Kong or east to Shanghai; if you love bold heat and tingling peppercorns, Chengdu and Chongqing are unmatched.
Cantonese & Greater Bay (Mild, Fresh, Savory)
- Guangzhou: Morning Dim Sum (Har Gow, Siu Mai, Char Siu Bao), Cheung Fun rice noodle rolls, and Double-Skin Milk. Guangzhou Food Guide →
- Hong Kong: Roast goose, wonton noodles, Cha Chaan Teng milk tea, and pineapple buns. Hong Kong Food Guide →
- Macau: Portuguese egg tarts (Pasteis de Nata), pork chop buns, and Macanese African chicken. Macau Food Guide →
- Shenzhen: Coconut chicken hotpot, Chaozhou beef hotpot, and regional specialties from across China. Shenzhen Food Guide →
Sichuan & Chongqing (Mala: Numbing & Fiery)
- Chengdu (UNESCO City of Gastronomy): Mapo Tofu, Dan Dan Noodles, Twice-Cooked Pork, Chuan Chuan skewers, and sweet Bingfen jelly. Chengdu Food Guide →
- Chongqing: Beef tallow Nine-Grid Hotpot (ask for a half-split Yuanyang pot with mild mushroom broth!), Chongqing Xiaomian noodles, and Jianghu spicy dishes. Chongqing Food Guide →
North & Northwest (Roasts, Wheat & Lamb)
- Beijing: Crisp-skinned Peking Duck rolled with scallions and sweet bean paste, Zhajiangmian noodles, and copper-pot lamb hotpot. Beijing Food Guide →
- Xi'an: Hand-pulled Biangbiang belt noodles, crispy Roujiamo pork or beef flatbreads, and Yangrou Paomo lamb soup. Xi'an Food Guide →
Jiangnan / East China (Delicate, Lightly Sweet)
- Shanghai: Soup-filled Xiaolongbao, pan-fried Shengjianbao, Red-Braised Pork Belly (Hong Shao Rou), and hairy crab in autumn. Shanghai Food Guide →
Practical Dining Tips for Foreign Visitors
- QR Code Table Ordering: Most casual restaurants place a QR sticker on the table. Scan it with WeChat or Alipay, and use the built-in translation button inside WeChat/Alipay mini-programs to read the menu in English with photos.
- Communicating Dietary Restrictions: Save Chinese text screenshots on your phone for phrases like "不吃辣" (No spicy), "不要香菜" (No cilantro), "素食/不吃肉" (Vegetarian / No meat), and "对花生过敏" (Allergic to peanuts).
- No Tipping: Tipping is not customary anywhere in Mainland China, including restaurants, taxis, and hotel bellhops.