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🍜Eating well
Chinese food is regional, varied and a highlight of any trip. Order with confidence, flag dietary needs clearly, and don't fear the busy street stalls.
- Order via
- QR menu / picture menu
- Spice
- Sichuan & Hunan are fiery
- Street food
- Busy stalls = fresh & safe
- Water
- Drink bottled or boiled
How ordering works
- Many restaurants use a QR-code menu — scan, order and pay from your phone (Alipay/WeChat translate menus in-app).
- Picture menus are common; point if needed. Dishes are usually shared family-style.
- Tea or hot water often comes free; tap water is not for drinking.
Dietary needs
Communicate clearly — vegetarianism isn't always understood (dishes may use meat stock). Use the phrasebook's food phrases, or a translation card stating allergies.
- 'Wǒ chī sù' = I'm vegetarian. 'Bú yào là' = not spicy.
- For allergies, show the specific ingredient written in Chinese.
Street food & safety
Busy stalls with high turnover are usually fresh and safe — follow the local crowds. Start gently with very spicy regional food, and carry hand sanitizer for markets.
Regional highlights
- Sichuan/Chongqing: numbing-spicy hotpot. Cantonese (Guangdong): dim sum & seafood.
- Shaanxi: noodles & roujiamo. Jiangnan (Shanghai/Suzhou): sweeter, delicate dishes.
- Northwest (Xinjiang/Gansu): lamb, kebabs and hand-pulled noodles.
Planning the trip itself?