5 Food and Drink Facts You Should Know Before Travelling in China! (2025)
YenKid: China is a delicious paradise on Earth. To ensure you have the best possible experience, here are my top 5 things you should know about eating and drinking in China.
1️⃣ Don’t drink unboiled tap water. It is generally unsuitable for drinking in most places without causing stomach issues for those not used to it. If you don’t have immediate access to bottled water, boil the water and allow it to cool. Locals always boil tap water.
2️⃣ Avoid eating large amounts of raw vegetables or seafood unless you are eating at a reasonably mid-end / high-end restaurant. International recognised chains like Subway are usually acceptable, even if fairly cheap. I would avoid it altogether if your stomach is sensitive.
3️⃣ Spicy food may cause stomach issues for you if you’re not used to the quantity or type of spices. Try not to go all-in on your first meal of spicy food and make sure you know where the toilet is. Remember this, especially if you’re in Sichuan, Chongqing, Hunan, or Jiangxi.
4️⃣ Street food cleanliness - while some vendors have excellent food hygiene, I must say that the food hygiene at street food vendors is generally riskier than restaurants. Some are unlicensed, some vendors are not professionally trained, some are less knowledgeable about food hygiene. There’s no easy way to figure out which ones are clean - just go with your instinct if you want to try it. Not saying that all restaurants are cleaner than street food - sometimes it’s the opposite. Same all over the world. Definitely don’t avoid street food though, just be cautious.
5️⃣ If you have an allergy, do not assume that staff have understood you properly and have taken you seriously. Use a translation app to communicate and receive a positive answer. Take responsibility for your health at all times. There is more likely to be a cultural or educational gap in low-end restaurants. I’m not saying avoid low-end restaurants, just that high-end restaurants are likely to be better-trained in dealing with allergies.
Note: This is not health advice. You should always use your own judgement about what you eat or drink, wherever you are in the world.
