Chinese food is light, quick to prepare, easily digested and quite healthy. It is also packed with a lot of flavour and prepared fresh with rice or noodles as the base, mixed with vegetables and choice of meat. All these factors have contributed to its popularity around the world.
Contrary to popular belief Chinese food in China is quite a complex and diverse cuisine. It is made up of 8 specific regional cuisines from the different provinces in China, each with its own distinct set of flavours and unique identity.
If you are a Chinese food lover and happen to be visiting The Land Of The Dragon you should definitely try the authentic version of these famous Chinese foods in China. And for tips on the best places to savour these well loved Chinese dishes grab a copy of our China Travel Guide .
For an article on the most famous Chinese food you must try in China, there is no better dish to begin with than those delicious little stuffed dough parcels called dumplings. This traditional food is most widely eaten in the northern parts of China and is a must on Chinese New Year’s Eve.
Even if you have had dumplings many times in India or elsewhere, you simply must not miss the chance of having authentic dumplings in the land of its origin. In China dumplings are eaten pretty much any time of the day – for breakfast, lunch or dinner. And the dumplings there are quite versatile both in preparation and filling. You will find baked, boiled, fried, simmered and steamed versions. The thin dough can be made of bread, flour or potato base, while the filling options range from minced meat, fish, finely chopped vegetables, cheese to even sweets or fruits.
Just ask for your choice of filling and enjoy the dumplings by lightly dipping them in dark soy sauce or garlic infused vinegar as the locals do. Both savoury and sweet versions are delicious. For a unique sensory experience try the cucumber and scrambled eggs filling. It is an interesting combination but yum. We recommend you go for it especially if you are one who loves to experiment with food.
Chow Mein is such a well known Chinese dish that it is probably the first name that comes to mind when one mentions most famous Chinese foods. It is a close competitor to the dumpling. Again, you really must try having chow mein in China if you are headed there for a visit. Enjoying the textures, ingredients and flavours of a traditionally prepared chow mein in China is an experience in itself.
Hailing from the Guangdong province, chow mein is a simple and hearty dish of Chinese stir-fried noodles tossed with vegetables, onions, celery and a variety of meats such as chicken, beef, pork or shrimp in dark soy sauce.
The famous hotpot, part of Sichuan province cuisine, is a fiery preparation that will ignite your taste buds and satisfy your craving for eating hot and spicy food in China. Just in case you were concerned that the authentic version of this famous Chinese food being too bland, hotpot is a dish that will surely clear all your misconceptions.
Having hotpot is a hands-on interesting experience. First a pot of steaming hot broth in your choice of flavour is placed before you. This broth is the most important part of a good hotpot. The flavours of the broth could be tomato, mushroom, original or spicy. It is accompanied by an array of finely sliced ingredients such as shrimp, chicken, tofu, mushrooms, vegetables, spring onions, greens and wontons to name a few. To eat hotpot, dunk your choice of ingredients into the bubbling spicy hot broth to let the thinly sliced portions cook instantly. Then just flavour it with your choice of sauces – BBQ sauce, peanut butter sauce, vinegar, with sesame paste, chopped garlic and onions and spicy oils. You simply cannot afford to skip having hotpot when in China.
Something else you cannot afford to miss on a trip to China is to see the Terracotta Army in Xian and the Forbidden City Palace complex in Beijing.
When planning your trip and applying for your China Visa, ensure that you get Travel Insurance for China. Buy travel insurance before you travel because it is a necessary safeguard to cover you financially just in case you find yourself in an emergency situation, such as an accident or your luggage or passport getting lost or misplaced.
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28th Apr,2020