Regional Foods

China eats by region — the dishes to hunt down in each city, and the one plate you should not leave without trying.

34 places in this guide · Hand-picked and verified

北

Peking Duck

北京烤鸭

Beijing

Crisp skin carved at your table — Beijing's most ceremonial dish

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小

Xiao Long Bao

小笼包

Shanghai

Soup-filled dumplings Shanghai made famous — and everyone else imitates

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四

Sichuan Hotpot

四川火锅

Chengdu

A bubbling cauldron of broth, chilli and numbing spice — dinner as a team sport

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广

Cantonese Dim Sum

广式点心

Guangzhou

Trolleys, teapots and a hundred small plates — the morning ritual of the south

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油

Biangbiang Noodles

油泼面

Xi'an

Hand-pulled ribbons as wide as your belt, slicked with chilli oil — Xi'an's boldest bowl

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龙

Longjing Shrimp

龙井虾仁

Hangzhou

Fresh river shrimp stir-fried with West Lake's famous tea leaves — Hangzhou elegance in a bowl

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青

Qingdao Seafood

青岛海鲜

Qingdao

Beer-boiled clams and grilled squid with a cold Tsingtao — China's best seaside eating

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长

Changsha Stinky Tofu

长沙臭豆腐

Changsha

Jet-black, shatteringly crisp, and molten at the centre — Changsha's beloved 'smelly' snack

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武

Wuhan Hot Dry Noodles

武汉热干面

Wuhan

Sesame-paste noodles eaten standing up at 7am — the beating heart of Wuhan's breakfast culture

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兰

Lanzhou Beef Noodles

兰州牛肉面

Lanzhou

Hand-pulled noodles in crystal-clear beef broth — breakfast of the Silk Road, made to a five-colour code

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南

Nanjing Salted Duck

南京盐水鸭

Nanjing

Lightly brined, faintly floral, served cold — the duck that Nanjing eats year-round and best in autumn

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桂

Guilin Rice Noodles

桂林米粉

Guilin

Silky rice noodles in a pork bone broth — Guilin's breakfast, done for less than a dollar

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扬

Yangzhou Fried Rice

扬州炒饭

Yangzhou

The most famous fried rice in China — golden grains, ham, shrimp and a wok's patience

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新

Xinjiang Pilaf

新疆抓饭

Urumqi

A mountain of lamb-studded rice, golden with carrot and onion — the heart of Xinjiang cooking

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天

Goubuli Buns

天津狗不理

Tianjin

Tianjin's legendary steamed buns — 18 folds of dough around a juicy pork filling

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陕

Roujiamo

陕西肉夹馍

Xi'an

China's answer to the hamburger — braised pork stuffed into a toasted wheat bun

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杭

Dongpo Pork

杭州东坡肉

Hangzhou

A cube of pork belly braised until it trembles — named after the poet who made it famous

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福

Fuzhou Fish Balls

福州鱼丸

Fuzhou

Springy fish-paste spheres hiding a pocket of savoury pork — a Fuzhou street icon

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厦

Satay Noodles

厦门沙茶面

Xiamen

A bowl of noodles drowned in rich, peanutty satay broth — Xiamen's soul food

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潮

Chaoshan Beef Hotpot

潮州牛肉火锅

Chaozhou

Fresh-cut beef, a clear broth, and ten different cuts — precision hotpot from Guangdong

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海

Hainan Chicken Rice

海南鸡饭

Wenchang

Silky poached chicken over rice cooked in chicken fat — the dish that conquered Southeast Asia

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桂

Yangshuo Beer Fish

桂林啤酒鱼

Yangshuo

River fish braised in beer with tomato and chilli — the taste of Yangshuo's limestone hills

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成

Chengdu Chuanchuan

成都串串香

Chengdu

Hotpot's street cousin — everything on a stick, simmering in a spicy pot, paid by the skewer

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西

Yangrou Paomo

西安羊肉泡馍

Xi'an

Shred your own flatbread into lamb soup — Xi'an's most interactive meal

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大

Knife-Cut Noodles

大同刀削面

Datong

Noodles shaved straight from a dough block by a master's knife — Shanxi's daily staple

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无

Wuxi Spare Ribs

无锡排骨

Wuxi

Sweet, glossy, slow-braised pork ribs — the jewel of Jiangnan's sugar-loving kitchen

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宁

Ningbo Tangyuan

宁波汤圆

Ningbo

Glutinous rice balls with a molten black-sesame heart — the sweet soul of Chinese New Year

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台

Taizhou Seafood

台州海鲜

Taizhou

A fishing city on the East China Sea where the day's catch becomes tonight's dinner

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