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Thali

🇨🇳 The food of China

167 dishes from China, best known first, across 60 cities and regions.

Chinese cooking is shaped by a vast range of climates, local crops, and centuries of migration and trade. Its many regional styles use staples like rice and wheat, and balance flavors and textures with a focus on color, aroma, and nutrition. The cuisine’s diversity and techniques have influenced food cultures across Asia and the world.

  • Chopsticks and the wok are key utensils in Chinese cooking.
  • The first restaurants in the modern sense appeared in Song dynasty China.
  • Soy sauce is used in cooking, not added at the table.
  • Chinese food therapy links meals to health and balance.
  • Rice dominates in the south, wheat in the north.

The cooking of China

Chinese cuisine covers a huge variety of dishes and traditions, shaped by geography, history, and local customs. The food changes from north to south and east to west, reflecting what grows best in each region. Cooking methods range from stir-frying in a wok to steaming, braising, and baking. Flavors are balanced for taste, color, and aroma, often drawing on principles from traditional Chinese medicine. Meals are built around shared dishes, and attention is paid to the harmony of ingredients and presentation. Over time, outside influences—through trade, migration, and conquest—have added new foods and techniques, making Chinese cuisine one of the world’s most varied.

Staple foods in China

Rice is the main staple in the south, often served steamed or as congee, a rice porridge eaten for breakfast. In the north, wheat is more common, used for noodles, breads, and dumplings. Millet and other grains are also traditional. Meat is usually used in small amounts, with vegetables and grains making up most of the meal. Soy sauce, tofu, and chili oil are common seasonings and ingredients.

From region to region in China

Regional cooking in China is highly diverse. Cantonese food from the south is known for fresh ingredients and mild flavors. Sichuan cuisine from the west uses chili and spices for heat and numbing sensations. Shandong cooking in the north features wheat-based foods and seafood, while Jiangsu (including Huaiyang) in the east is famous for refined techniques like braising and stewing. Fujian, Hunan, Anhui, and Zhejiang each have their own specialties, from seafood and soups to wild herbs and pickled foods. Preservation methods like drying, salting, and fermenting are common across regions.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Chinese cuisine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Cities and regions of China

Guangdong 12Beijing 10Fujian 9Guangzhou 7Sichuan 7Hangzhou 6Shaanxi 5Shanghai 5Chongqing 4Shandong 4Tianjin 4Xi'an 4Yunnan 4Chaoshan 3Chengdu 3Fuzhou 3Gansu 3Guangxi 3Guizhou 3Nanjing 3Quanzhou 3Yangzhou 3Zhejiang 3Anxi County 2Guanzhong 2Henan 2Jiangnan 2Jiangsu 2Lanzhou 2Suzhou 2Wuhan 2Wuyi Mountains 2Xinjiang 2Zhangzhou 2Bozhou 1Chang'an 1Changsha 1Changshu 1Changzhou 1Chaozhou 1Chuzhou 1Dong'an County 1Geleshan 1Hainan 1Hanzhong 1Hebei 1Hohhot 1Huai'an 1Hubei 1Hunan 1Jianshui 1Jilin 1Jinan 1Jingzhou 1Kunming 1Linhai 1Liuzhou 1Longjing 1Luzhou 1Manchuria 1
MealBreakfastLunchTea timeDinnerSupperSnacks
KindMain dishStreet foodSoupStew or curryRice dishNoodle or pasta dishDumplingBreadGrill or roastSandwich or wrapPie or savoury pastrySalad or sideCheese or dairy foodSausage or cured foodSauce, pickle or fermentSweet or dessertDrink
DietVegetarianVeganFish and seafoodMeat
Dandan noodlesMeat担担面 / 擔擔麵 🇨🇳 China and 2 moreSichuan wheat noodles with spicy sauce, pickled vegetables, and minced pork Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner Beggar's chickenMeat叫化鸡 🇨🇳 ChinaWhole chicken stuffed, wrapped in leaves and clay, and baked slowly Main dish Buddha Jumps Over the WallMeat佛跳牆 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreA lavish Fujian soup with seafood, meat and rare delicacies Soup, Dinner Zhajiangmian炸酱面 🇨🇳 China and 3 moreThick wheat noodles with a savory fermented soybean and meat sauce Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner Tong sui糖水 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreChinese sweet soups served as dessert at the end of a meal Sweet or dessert SachimaVegetarianᠰᠠᠴᡳᠮᠠ 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreSweet, airy strips of deep-fried dough held together with sugar syrup Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks Kuih粿 / کوءيه / kue 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 5 moreBite-sized sweet or savoury snacks made from rice or glutinous rice flour Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks Yong tau foo釀豆腐 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreTofu or vegetables stuffed with meat or fish paste, served in soup or with sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Har gowFish or seafood蝦餃 🇨🇳 ChinaTranslucent shrimp dumplings served as part of Cantonese dim sum Dumpling, Lunch, Tea time Beef noodle soupMeat 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreNoodles in beef broth with stewed or braised beef, eaten across East and Southeast Asia Soup, Lunch, Dinner Yangzhou fried riceMeat扬州炒饭 🇨🇳 China and 3 moreChinese-style fried rice with pork, shrimp, egg and mixed vegetables Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Scallion pancakeVegan蔥油餅 🇨🇳 China and 3 moreLayered Chinese flatbread with scallions, pan-fried until crisp and chewy Bread, Snacks LazijiMeat辣子鸡 🇨🇳 ChinaCrispy chicken stir-fried with dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Pineapple bunVegetarian菠蘿包 🇭🇰 Hong Kong and 3 moreA sweet bun with a crunchy, golden cookie crust, popular in Hong Kong Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Tea time gua baoMeat割包 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSteamed folded bun filled with braised pork belly and condiments Street food, Snacks, Lunch Turnip cake蘿蔔糕 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreSteamed and often pan-fried cake of daikon radish and rice flour, served as dim sum Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Crayfish as food 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreFreshwater crustaceans eaten in many styles around the world Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Ló͘-bah-pn̄gMeat滷肉飯 🇹🇼 Taiwan and 1 moreSteamed rice topped with braised minced pork in soy sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Ants climbing a treeMeat螞蟻上樹 🇨🇳 ChinaSichuan noodles with minced meat in a savory sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Lion's head獅子頭 🇨🇳 ChinaLarge pork meatballs stewed with vegetables, from eastern China Main dish, Lunch, Dinner TosoVegan屠蘇 🇯🇵 Japan and 1 moreSpiced medicinal sake shared at Japanese New Year Drink Zhangcha duckMeat樟茶鸭 🇨🇳 ChinaSichuan duck smoked over tea leaves and camphor, served at festive meals Main dish, Dinner Jjamppong짬뽕 🇰🇷 South Korea and 1 moreSpicy Korean noodle soup with seafood, pork, and vegetables in a red broth Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner Spare ribsMeat 🇨🇳 China and 4 morePork ribs with meat and fat, slow-cooked or roasted in many cuisines Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Roasted chestnutsVegan 🇮🇹 Italy and 5 moreChestnuts cooked over heat and sold as a warm street snack in autumn and winter Street food, Snacks Siu yukMeat燒肉 🇨🇳 China and 1 moreCantonese roast pork with crisp skin and tender meat Main dish Qingtuan青团 🇨🇳 ChinaGreen glutinous rice dumpling filled with sweet or savory paste, eaten at Qingming Festival Dumpling, Snacks Hot dry noodlesVegan热干面 🇨🇳 ChinaWheat noodles tossed with sesame paste, soy sauce and pickles, served hot and without broth Noodle or pasta dish, Breakfast Nam ngiaoMeatน้ำเงี้ยว 🇹🇭 Thailand and 2 moreNorthern Thai noodle soup with pork, tomato, and fermented soybeans Soup, Lunch, Dinner Banmian板麵 🇨🇳 China and 3 moreHandmade Chinese noodles in soup, often with anchovies, meat and leafy greens Main dish, Lunch, Dinner AraVeganཨ་རག་ 🇧🇹 Bhutan and 2 moreA homemade alcoholic drink from Bhutan and Tibet, made by fermenting or distilling grains Drink Sesame seed candyVegan 🇬🇷 Greece and 5 moreA sweet made from sesame seeds and honey or sugar, pressed into bars or balls Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Breakfast White cut chickenMeat白切雞 🇨🇳 ChinaPoached chicken served chilled with a ginger and scallion dip Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Malatang麻辣烫 🇨🇳 China and 1 moreA Sichuan street food of meats and vegetables cooked in a spicy, numbing broth Soup, Lunch, Dinner Popiah薄餅 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreFresh spring roll with a thin wheat crêpe and mixed vegetable filling Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Drunken chickenMeat醉鸡 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreChicken cooked and marinated with alcohol, served chilled or warm Main dish Shengjian mantouMeat生煎馒头 🇨🇳 ChinaPan-fried pork-filled buns with a crisp base from Shanghai and Suzhou Street food, Breakfast, Snacks Sweet and sour porkMeat 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreCrispy pork pieces tossed in a tangy, colorful sweet and sour sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Yusheng魚生 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 6 moreRaw fish and shredded vegetable salad tossed for luck at Chinese New Year Salad or side, Dinner Rice noodle roll腸粉 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreThin steamed rice noodle sheets rolled plain or with fillings and served with sauce Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch MahuaVegan麻花 🇨🇳 China and 1 moreTwisted strands of dough, deep-fried and eaten sweet or savory Sweet or dessert, Snacks Yi meinVegetarian伊麵 🇨🇳 China and 1 moreFlat Cantonese egg noodles with a chewy, spongy texture Noodle or pasta dish Luosifen螺螄粉 🇨🇳 ChinaRice noodles in a snail-based broth with pickled bamboo shoots and toppings Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner Crossing-the-bridge noodles过桥米线 🇨🇳 ChinaYunnan rice noodles served in a hot broth with raw and cooked toppings Soup, Breakfast, Lunch Jianbing煎饼 🇨🇳 ChinaChinese street crepe made with batter, egg, and savory fillings Street food, Breakfast, Snacks fuqi feipianMeat夫妻肺片 🇨🇳 ChinaSichuan cold beef and offal slices in spicy, numbing sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Nanjing salted duckMeat盐水鸭 🇨🇳 ChinaDuck cured, salted and cooked in the style of Nanjing, China Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Moo shu porkMeat木须肉 🇨🇳 China and 1 moreNorthern Chinese stir-fry of pork, egg, and vegetables, sometimes served in pancakes Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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