Example Food Itineraries for Tourists Visiting China (2026)
Introduction
This food itinerary list has been curated by me, a person who has worked part-time for 8 years in Chinese restaurants and takeouts in a European country.
Yes, Iβm from a restaurant family. π¨π»βπ³
I am back in China permanently and frequently explore new dishes, with an aim to recommend them to family and friends. A lot of friends ask me about cuisines and food combinations to look out for.
I have hand-picked these dishes to cover a range of tastes for visitors to China. Most of the dishes are top choices for the locals.
You should be able to find great versions of all dishes in any major city. π
The cuisines and dishes cover different regions of China but doesnβt cover every single province.
Wishing you an amazing food journey throughout China! Do your best to βcollectβ all of these dishes during your trip! π₯’
Set A
Morning: Classic breakfast
pan fried crepe | jiΔn bing | η ι₯Ό OR
buns | bΔo zi | ε ε (see this article for a full selection) OR
meat or vegetable dumplings | jiΗo zΗ | ι₯Ίε
Afternoon: Sichuan Hotpotεε·η«ι
(for other Sichuan dishes, see this article)
Top ingredients - sliced beef or lamb, meatballs, tofu, mushrooms, any leafy vegetable
Evening: Cantonese dinner η²€θ
(see this article for a full selection)
roasted meat | shΔo wΓ¨i | η§ε³
sweet and sour pork | gΕ« lΗ rΓ²u | εεθ
steamed fish | qΔ«ng zhΔng yΓΊ | ζΈ θΈι±Ό
Set B
Morning: Cantonese dim sumεΉΏεΌζ©θΆ
(see dim sum list here for more choices)
shrimp dumplings| xiΔ jiΗo | θΎι₯Ί
pork dumplings | shΔo mΓ i | η§ε
rice noodle rolls | chΓ‘ng fΔn | θ η²
Afternoon: Xiβan lunch ιθ₯Ώθ
meat flatbread | rΓ²u jiΔ mΓ³ | θε€Ήι¦
hand pulled noodles in spicy sauce | biΓ‘ng biΓ‘ng miΓ n | π°»π°»ι’/ζ²Ήζ³Όι’
Evening: Shanghai dinner δΈζ΅·θ
(see this article for a full selection)
soup dumplings | xiΗo lΓ³ng bΔo | ε°η¬Όε
red braised pork | hΓ³ng shΔo rΓ²u | ηΊ’η§θ
Shanghai fried noodles | shΓ ng hΗi chΗo miΓ n | δΈζ΅·ηι’
Set C
Morning: Traditional breakfast
fried dough stick| yΓ³u tiΓ‘o | ζ²Ήζ‘
congee (many varieties) | zhΕu | η²₯
soy milk | dΓ²u jiΔng | θ±ζ΅
Afternoon: Lanzhou lunch ε °ε·θ
Lanzhou beef noodle soup | lan zhou niΓΊ rΓ²u miΓ n | ε °ε·ηθι’
meat skewers| kΗo chuΓ n| η€δΈ²/ηΎθδΈ²
Evening: Beijing dinner
Peking duck | bΔi jΔ«ng kΗo yΔ | εδΊ¬η€ιΈ
