Here is a list of must-try Chinese specialty foods for foreign tourists visiting China
Iconic Dishes
- Peking Duck (北京烤鸭) – A famous Beijing specialty known for its crispy skin and tender meat, served with pancakes, scallions, and sweet sauce.
2.Dim Sum (点心) – Cantonese-style small dishes including dumplings, buns, and other steamed or fried items.
- Mongolian Hot Pot (蒙古火锅) – A interactive dining experience where you cook thinly sliced meats and vegetables in a simmering broth.
- Kung Pao Chicken (宫保鸡丁) – A Sichuan dish with chicken, peanuts, and vegetables in a spicy sauce.
- Mapo Tofu (麻婆豆腐) – A spicy Sichuan tofu dish with minced meat and Sichuan pepper.
- Dumplings (饺子) – Chinese dumplings filled with various combinations of meat and vegetables.
- Sichuan Hot Pot (四川火锅) – A fiery hot pot with a rich, spicy broth and various meats, seafood, and vegetables.
- Fish-flavored Shredded Pork (鱼香肉丝) – A dish with pork, vegetables, and a sweet and sour sauce.
- Sweet and Sour Pork (糖醋里脊) – Crispy pork in a sweet and sour sauce.
- Xiao Long Bao (小笼包) – Soup dumplings filled with pork and broth, a Shanghai specialty.
Regional Specialties
- Cantonese Cuisine – Known for its fresh and tender taste with exotic ingredients.
- Fujian Cuisine – Features light and fresh flavors with excellent cutting skills.
- Jiangsu Cuisine – Dishes are fresh with a moderately sweet taste and elegant appearance.
- Zhejiang Cuisine – Known for its tender taste and rich cultural connotation.
- Hunan Cuisine – Extremely spicy with rich colors and thick oils.
- Anhui Cuisine – Emphasizes the use of fresh ingredients and traditional cooking methods.
- Hong Chang (Ha’erbin Pork Sausage) – A Russian-influenced sausage from Harbin.
- Xue Doufu (Miao Blood Tofu) – A specialty from Guizhou made with pig blood and tofu.
- Bamboo Shoots with Anhui Ham – A warming dish from Anhui province.
- Yang Mei (Chinese Bayberry) – A seasonal fruit with a sweet and tart flavor.
Street Foods and Snacks
- Jianbing (煎饼) – Chinese crepes sold as breakfast street food.
- 臭豆腐 (Stinky Tofu) – A fermented tofu with a strong odor but beloved flavor.
- Bingtang Hulu (糖葫芦) – Sugar-coated hawthorns on a stick.
- Roujiamo (肉夹馍) – A Chinese burger from Xi’an.
- Samsa (萨姆萨) – Uyghur mutton-stuffed bread from Xinjiang.
These dishes represent a variety of flavors and cooking styles from different regions of China, offering a comprehensive culinary experience for foreign tourists.