Chinese cuisine is one of the world's great culinary traditions — as diverse as the continent of Europe, with eight major regional cuisines and thousands of local specialties. Here's your guide to the essential dishes and where to find them.
Beijing: Peking Duck & Imperial Cuisine
Peking Duck (北京烤鸭): The undisputed star of Beijing cuisine. Crispy skin, tender meat, wrapped in thin pancakes with hoisin sauce and scallions. Where to eat: Quanjude (est. 1864) or Da Dong (modern interpretation). Price: ¥150-300 ($20-40) for a whole duck. Also try: Zhajiangmian (noodles with fermented soybean paste), lamb hotpot (instant-boiled lamb in broth). Beijing tours →
Sichuan: The Fiery Kingdom
Sichuan Hotpot (四川火锅): A bubbling cauldron of chili oil — the signature of Chengdu. Dip thinly sliced meat, vegetables, and tofu into the spicy broth. Where to eat: Huangcheng Laoma. Price: ¥80-150 per person. Also try: Mapo Tofu, Dan Dan Noodles, Kung Pao Chicken, and Fuqi Feipian (beef offal in chili oil). Spice level: Start with medium — trust us. Chengdu tours →
Guangzhou: Dim Sum & Cantonese
Dim Sum (点心): The art of Chinese brunch — har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork dumplings), char siu bao (BBQ pork buns), and egg tarts. Where to eat: Guangzhou's Panxi Restaurant or a local dim sum house. Price: ¥30-80 per person for a full dim sum meal. Also try: White cut chicken, wonton noodles, and clay pot rice. China city tours →
Other Regions: Shanghai, Xi'an & Yunnan
Shanghai: Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) — the city's iconic dish. Best at Din Tai Fung or local xiaolongbao houses. ¥30-60 for a basket of 8. Xi'an: The Muslim Quarter is a street food paradise — hand-pulled noodles, yangrou paomo (lamb soup with bread), and biangbiang noodles. Yunnan: Crossing-the-bridge noodles (rice noodles in a rich broth), wild mushrooms, and Dai-style barbecue. China food tours →
