China’s Food will Delight and Surprise You

Chinese food will be familiar to many embarking on a holiday hiking in China, however the food you buy from your local Chinese takeaway may not be representative of the food in the region you are travelling to! Chinese food is very regional and there are eight well-known cuisines emanating from this country. Some of these may be familiar, such as the cuisines of Beijing and Shanghai. Good food can be found in restaurants from the most elaborate down to the simplest fare and for a range of prices. All in all it can be a daunting choice to decide what and where to eat. This may help.

What to Eat in Xian

Xian is the home of the Terracotta Warriors and is a great place to visit when hiking in China. The food in Xian is delicious and includes some wonderful and very surprising dishes. For example, Yangrou Paomo is pita bread soaked in lamb soup accompanied with a spicy sauce and sesame oil. Surprisingly, pita bread is used a lot in this area and another great snack to try is Rou Jian Mo, which is stewed, spiced pork sandwiched in pita bread – a bit like a Chinese hamburger. Less surprisingly, noodles are popular in Xian and are often served cold, however Qishan Noodles are served in a sour soup heavily seasoned and accompanied with pork, egg or bean curd.

What to Eat in Suzhou

Suzhou is known as the ‘Venice of the East’ because of its beautiful gardens. The food in Suzhou is seasonal, as in all areas of the country, and if your holiday hiking in China is during the summer you may like to try Xiang You Shan Hu, which is a dish of stir-fried eels. Don’t be alarmed if the dish crackles when it’s brought to your table, as it’s the sound of the hot oil that has just been poured onto the eels. Another great fish dish is Song Shu Gui Yu, which is translated as sweet and sour mandarin fish. It is a whole mandarin fish that is cut into the shape of a squirrel (yes, a squirrel!) and fried; it’s then covered in a delicious sweet and sour sauce. Another refreshing summer dish is chicken steamed in watermelon, which is often served in the hollowed out watermelon. For seafood lovers, a must try is Biluo Xia Ren, which consists of shrimps cooked in the green Bi Luo Chun tea.

What to Eat in Beijing

If your holiday takes you to Beijing you will find more familiar dishes on offer. These include the wonderful Peking Duck, which is probably the most celebrated dish. The crispy slivers of duck rolled in pancakes with cucumber and leek is a favourite for many people. You might also want to try a Mongolian Hotpot, which is otherwise known as Shuan Yang Rou or Scalded Mutton. It’s a do it yourself dish, as you cook your own slices of thin mutton in a hot broth along with vegetables and noodles, then dip them into an unusual sauce made up of sesame paste and chive-flower preserve. Sichuanese food is also popular in Beijing and Gong Bao Chicken with Peanuts is a popular dish from this cuisine. If you are an adventurous gourmand you may want to try deep-fried scorpions or Lu Zhu Huo Shao, a soup made from pork offal.

Wherever your holiday hiking in China takes you, you will find a diverse choice of delicious food both familiar and new to try and enjoy.

Tony Maniscalco is the Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Join us on a holiday hiking in China to the most scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices. We offer over 140 guided group walking holidays in over 60 different countries.