Eight great cuisines with distinct characters — from Sichuan's spice to Cantonese freshness, every meal tells a sto...

Food Guide

Eight great cuisines with distinct characters — from Sichuan's spice to Cantonese freshness, every meal tells a story.

🌶️
Sichuan > Hunan
Spice Ranking
🥢
¥10-30
Snacks
🍚
¥50-150
Meals
🍲
¥80-150/person
Hotpot Avg.
🥬
Available
Vegetarian

Eight Cuisines8

Sichuan (Sichuan / Chongqing) Shandong (Shandong) Cantonese (Guangdong) Jiangsu (Jiangsu) Zhejiang (Zhejiang) Fujian (Fujian) Hunan (Hunan) Anhui (Anhui)
The Eight Great Cuisines grew out of China's varied climates, produce and culinary traditions. Each cuisine is named after the ancient abbreviation of its region — Chuan = Sichuan, Lu = Shandong, Yue = Guangdong, Su = Jiangsu, Zhe = Zhejiang, Min = Fujian, Xiang = Hunan, Hui = Anhui.

Comparison8

Sichuan Cuisine
🌶️ Numbing & Spicy
Mapo Tofu · Kung Pao Chicken · Sichuan Boiled Fish · Twice-Cooked Pork · Dan Dan Noodles
Shandong Cuisine
🐟 Savory & Rich
Sweet & Sour Carp · Nine-Turn Intestine · Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallions · Dezhou Braised Chicken · Jianbing (Savory Crepe)
Cantonese Cuisine
🥟 Light & Delicate
White Cut Chicken · Roast Goose · Char Siu (BBQ Pork) · Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings) · Cheong Fun (Rice Noodle Rolls)
Jiangsu Cuisine
🌿 Refined & Fresh
Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish · Lion's Head Meatballs · Jinling Salted Duck · Xiaolongbao (Soup Dumplings) · Sheng Jian Bao (Pan-Fried Buns)
Zhejiang Cuisine
🍃 Fresh & Crisp
West Lake Vinegar Fish · Dongpo Pork · Longjing Shrimp · Sister Song's Fish Soup · Jinhua Ham
Fujian Cuisine
🦪 Fresh & Mild
Buddha Jumps Over the Wall · Lychee Pork · Oyster Omelette · Satay Noodles · Fish Ball Soup
Hunan Cuisine
🔥 Fragrant & Spicy
Steamed Fish Head with Chopped Chili · Chili Pepper Pork · Stir-Fried Beef · Mao's Braised Pork · Hunan Rice Noodles
Anhui Cuisine
🥘 Rich Soy Aroma
Stinky Mandarin Fish · Hairy Tofu (Fermented Tofu) · Huizhou One-Pot · Huangshan Stewed Pigeon · Huangshan Sesame Cake
Sichuan Cuisine 🌶️ Numbing & Spicy Shandong Cuisine 🐟 Savory & Rich Cantonese Cuisine 🥟 Light & Delicate Jiangsu Cuisine 🌿 Refined & Fresh Zhejiang Cuisine 🍃 Fresh & Crisp Fujian Cuisine 🦪 Fresh & Mild Hunan Cuisine 🔥 Fragrant & Spicy Anhui Cuisine 🥘 Rich Soy Aroma
🌶️Sichuan Cuisine

Sichuan Cuisine

🌶️ Numbing & Spicy 📍 Sichuan · Chengdu / Chongqing Name: Chuan = Sichuan

China's most popular cuisine — "one dish, one style; a hundred dishes, a hundred flavors," where the numbing of Sichuan pepper meets the heat of chili.

Mapo TofuMapo Tofu
Kung Pao ChickenKung Pao Chicken
Sichuan Boiled FishSichuan Boiled Fish
Twice-Cooked PorkTwice-Cooked Pork
Dan Dan NoodlesDan Dan Noodles
Hot & Sour Rice NoodlesHot & Sour Rice Noodles
Maoxuewang (Spicy Blood & Tripe)Maoxuewang (Spicy Blood & Tripe)
Chongqing Spicy ChickenChongqing Spicy Chicken
Yu Xiang Rou Si (Fish-Fragrant Pork)Yu Xiang Rou Si (Fish-Fragrant Pork)
Bobo Chicken (Chili Skewers)Bobo Chicken (Chili Skewers)
Chuan Chuan Xiang (Spicy Skewers)Chuan Chuan Xiang (Spicy Skewers)
Hot PotHot Pot
🐟Shandong Cuisine

Shandong Cuisine

🐟 Savory & Rich 📍 Shandong · Jinan / Qingdao Name: Lu = Shandong

One of China's oldest cuisines and the foundation of imperial cooking — renowned for precise heat control and slow-simmered stocks, with a unique scallion-braising technique.

Sweet & Sour CarpSweet & Sour Carp
Nine-Turn IntestineNine-Turn Intestine
Braised Sea Cucumber with ScallionsBraised Sea Cucumber with Scallions
Dezhou Braised ChickenDezhou Braised Chicken
Jianbing (Savory Crepe)Jianbing (Savory Crepe)
Shandong DumplingsShandong Dumplings
Braised PrawnsBraised Prawns
Ba Zi Rou (Braised Pork Belly)Ba Zi Rou (Braised Pork Belly)
🥟Cantonese Cuisine

Cantonese Cuisine

🥟 Light & Delicate 📍 Guangdong · Guangzhou / Shenzhen Name: Yue = Guangdong

Focused on the natural flavor of ingredients and precise cooking — light and tender. Its dim sum (yum cha) is world-famous, and it dominates overseas Chinese restaurants.

White Cut ChickenWhite Cut Chicken
Roast GooseRoast Goose
Char Siu (BBQ Pork)Char Siu (BBQ Pork)
Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings)Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings)
Cheong Fun (Rice Noodle Rolls)Cheong Fun (Rice Noodle Rolls)
Claypot RiceClaypot Rice
Typhoon Shelter CrabTyphoon Shelter Crab
Coconut ChickenCoconut Chicken
Siu MaiSiu Mai
Wonton NoodlesWonton Noodles
Double-Skin Milk PuddingDouble-Skin Milk Pudding
Egg TartEgg Tart
🌿Jiangsu Cuisine

Jiangsu Cuisine

🌿 Refined & Fresh 📍 Jiangsu · Suzhou / Nanjing Name: Su = Jiangsu

The representative of Huaiyang cuisine — fine knife work, balanced flavors and respect for original taste; a frequent choice for state banquets.

Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin FishSquirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish
Lion's Head MeatballsLion's Head Meatballs
Jinling Salted DuckJinling Salted Duck
Xiaolongbao (Soup Dumplings)Xiaolongbao (Soup Dumplings)
Sheng Jian Bao (Pan-Fried Buns)Sheng Jian Bao (Pan-Fried Buns)
Duck Blood & Vermicelli SoupDuck Blood & Vermicelli Soup
Boiled Shredded TofuBoiled Shredded Tofu
Wuxi Spare RibsWuxi Spare Ribs
Crab Roe Soup DumplingsCrab Roe Soup Dumplings
🍃Zhejiang Cuisine

Zhejiang Cuisine

🍃 Fresh & Crisp 📍 Zhejiang · Hangzhou Name: Zhe = Zhejiang

The core of Hangzhou cuisine — fresh, crisp and tender with a balanced salty-sweet profile, making good use of river and lake delicacies and seasonal ingredients.

West Lake Vinegar FishWest Lake Vinegar Fish
Dongpo PorkDongpo Pork
Longjing ShrimpLongjing Shrimp
Sister Song's Fish SoupSister Song's Fish Soup
Jinhua HamJinhua Ham
Ningbo Tangyuan (Rice Balls)Ningbo Tangyuan (Rice Balls)
Shaoxing Drunken ChickenShaoxing Drunken Chicken
🦪Fujian Cuisine

Fujian Cuisine

🦪 Fresh & Mild 📍 Fujian · Fuzhou / Xiamen Name: Min = Fujian

"Eating by the sea" — Fujian excels with seafood and rich stocks; "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall" is its signature dish, a deeply flavorful soup.

Buddha Jumps Over the WallBuddha Jumps Over the Wall
Lychee PorkLychee Pork
Oyster OmeletteOyster Omelette
Satay NoodlesSatay Noodles
Fish Ball SoupFish Ball Soup
Peanut SoupPeanut Soup
Minnan Vinegar PorkMinnan Vinegar Pork
🔥Hunan Cuisine

Hunan Cuisine

🔥 Fragrant & Spicy 📍 Hunan · Changsha Name: Xiang = Hunan

Hunan loves its heat — fragrant spice and cured meats are the soul of the cuisine; chopped-chili fish head and chili pork are everyday favorites.

Steamed Fish Head with Chopped ChiliSteamed Fish Head with Chopped Chili
Chili Pepper PorkChili Pepper Pork
Stir-Fried BeefStir-Fried Beef
Mao's Braised PorkMao's Braised Pork
Hunan Rice NoodlesHunan Rice Noodles
Changsha Stinky TofuChangsha Stinky Tofu
Kou Wei Cai (Flavorful Stir-Fry)Kou Wei Cai (Flavorful Stir-Fry)
Kou Wei Xia (Spicy Crayfish)Kou Wei Xia (Spicy Crayfish)
🥘Anhui Cuisine

Anhui Cuisine

🥘 Rich Soy Aroma 📍 Anhui · Huangshan / Hefei Name: Hui = Anhui

Generous oil, deep color and strong heat, with a mastery of curing and fermentation — "stinky mandarin fish" smells pungent but tastes delicious.

Stinky Mandarin FishStinky Mandarin Fish
Hairy Tofu (Fermented Tofu)Hairy Tofu (Fermented Tofu)
Huizhou One-PotHuizhou One-Pot
Huangshan Stewed PigeonHuangshan Stewed Pigeon
Huangshan Sesame CakeHuangshan Sesame Cake
Wenzheng Bamboo ShootsWenzheng Bamboo Shoots
🥜Dietary card to show the staff

Dietary card to show the staff

Tick your allergies and requirements — a Chinese card is generated below. Show it to the waiter or chef, or print it and carry it with you.

Severe allergies (most important)
Dietary requirements
Please read (in Chinese)
Tick the options above — the Chinese card appears here.
请帮我向厨师确认，谢谢！
紧急情况！我发生了严重过敏反应
  • 请立刻拨打 120（急救电话）
  • 请帮我注射肾上腺素（EpiPen）
  • 我有呼吸困难 / 休克的风险
  • 请不要离开我，我需要有人陪同
The card is written in Simplified Chinese for local staff; keep the emergency card with your medication.
🥢Ordering phrases (point at them)

Ordering phrases (point at them)

Each line has pinyin and English — just point if you cannot say it.

这个是什么？
zhè ge shì shén me?
What is this?
我要这个
wǒ yào zhè ge
I would like this
不要辣
bú yào là
Not spicy, please
不要放花椒
bú yào fàng huā jiāo
No Sichuan pepper
有素食吗？
yǒu sù shí ma?
Do you have vegetarian dishes?
我花生过敏
wǒ huā shēng guò mǐn
I am allergic to peanuts
不要香菜
bú yào xiāng cài
No coriander / cilantro
打包
dǎ bāo
Takeaway, please
买单 / 结账
mǎi dān / jié zhàng
The bill, please
可以用手机支付吗？
kě yǐ yòng shǒu jī zhī fù ma?
Can I pay by phone?

Words you will see on menus

Learn these and ordering gets much safer.

辣spicy 麻numbing (Sichuan pepper) 猪pork 牛beef 羊lamb / mutton 鸡chicken 鱼fish 虾shrimp / prawn 蟹crab 花生peanut 香菜coriander 葱spring onion 蒜garlic 素vegetarian 汤soup 炒stir-fried 蒸steamed 烤roast / grilled