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Chinese Cuisine

One of the world's greatest and most varied cuisines - a vast tapestry of regional cooking, from fiery Sichuan and Cantonese dim sum to Peking duck and hand-pulled noodles.

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Chinese Cuisine

Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.

Typedish
WhereNationwide
Nearest cityBeijing
Best seasonYear-round
Time to allowA meal
Getting thereAt restaurants, teahouses and street stalls across China
EntryCost of a meal

Chinese cuisine is one of the greatest and most diverse food cultures on earth, less a single cuisine than a vast tapestry of distinct regional traditions. From the numbing chilli heat of Sichuan and the delicate dim sum and seafood of Cantonese Guangdong to the crisp Peking duck of the north and the hand-pulled noodles of the northwest, it is an endlessly varied art of balance, texture and flavour, meant to be shared from many dishes.

What you actually see

  • Peking duck - the crisp roasted duck of Beijing.
  • Dim sum - the Cantonese small plates and dumplings.
  • Sichuan food - the fiery, numbing hotpot and mapo tofu.
  • The noodles and dumplings - the hand-pulled noodles and regional dumplings.

When to go

Year-round; meals are shared from many communal dishes, and regional specialities reward seeking out in their home provinces. Street food and busy local restaurants often serve the most authentic, exciting food.

Honest expectations

The real regional cuisines are far removed from the sweet, fried 'Chinese food' of the West, so come with an open mind and a taste for variety. Sichuan food is genuinely fiery and numbing. Language and menus can be a barrier, so pointing, picture menus and translation apps help. Sharing many dishes is the way to eat.

Nearby

Each region has its own celebrated cuisine, from Cantonese Guangdong to Sichuan and Xinjiang.

What to pack for Chinese Cuisine

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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