Start your Chinese food adventure with the famous dish of Peking Duck, a must-try specialty of Beijing. Head to Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant to taste the crispy skin and tender meat of the duck. Afterward, visit the Wangfujing Snack Street to try various traditional snacks, such as lamb skewers, fried scorpions, and candied haws.
Xi'an is famous for its noodles, especially the Biang Biang noodles, a thick and wide handmade noodle. Try them at Xi'an Famous Foods or Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum Restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Muslim Quarter, where you can find various street foods, such as roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), yangroupaomo (lamb soup with bread), and persimmon cakes.
Chengdu is known for its spicy food, especially the Sichuan Hot Pot. Try it at Huangcheng Laoma or Shujiuxiang Hot Pot. In the afternoon, visit the Wenshu Monastery and try the vegetarian snacks there, such as tofu pudding, sticky rice dumplings, and black sesame cakes.
Guilin is famous for its rice noodles, especially the Guilin rice noodles, a bowl of rice noodles served in a flavorful broth with pork, peanuts, scallions, and pickled vegetables. Try them at Xiaoguo Rice Noodle or Laozhai Rice Noodle. In the afternoon, take a boat tour along the Li River to enjoy the stunning scenery of karst mountains and green waters.
Yangshuo is a paradise for foodies, with its famous beer fish, stuffed snails, and roasted tofu. Try them at West Street or Yangshuo Park. In the afternoon, take a cooking class to learn how to make some of the local dishes, such as bamboo rice, steamed fish, and egg custard tarts.
Shanghai is a melting pot of different cuisines, with its specialties such as xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), shengjianbao (pan-fried buns), and hairy crab. Try them at Din Tai Fung or Jia Jia Tang Bao. In the afternoon, visit the Yu Garden and try the traditional snacks there, such as glutinous rice balls, fried dumplings, and sugarcoated haws.
Hangzhou is famous for its Longjing tea and local dishes, such as Dongpo pork, West Lake fish in vinegar gravy, and Beggar's chicken. Try them at Lou Wai Lou or Grandma's Kitchen. In the afternoon, take a boat tour along the West Lake to enjoy the beautiful scenery and fresh air.
Guangzhou is famous for its Cantonese cuisine, such as dim sum, roast goose, and claypot rice. Try them at Tim Ho Wan or Tao Tao Ju. In the afternoon, visit the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall Museum and try the snacks there, such as peanut candy, sesame cakes, and sugar paintings.
Hong Kong is a food paradise with its famous street food, such as fish balls, egg tarts, and pineapple buns. Try them at the Temple Street Night Market or Tai Cheong Bakery. In the afternoon, take a cable car ride to the Big Buddha on Lantau Island, and enjoy a vegetarian meal at Po Lin Monastery.
For transportation, we recommend taking high-speed trains or planes between cities to save time. The costs vary depending on the distance and the travel date, but we estimate an average of CNY 1000-1500 per person for the whole trip. For local transportation, such as taxis or subways, we recommend using mobile apps like DiDi or MetroMan to save money and time.
If you have more time, you can visit other cities in China, such as Chongqing for hot pot or Suzhou for sweet noodles. If you have less time, you can skip some cities or combine them, such as Beijing and Tianjin for Peking Duck and Goubuli Baozi. Also, don't forget to bring an empty stomach and an adventurous spirit to fully enjoy the diversity of Chinese cuisine.
China has many international airports, but the main ones for this itinerary are Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) in Beijing, Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) in Xi'an, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) in Chengdu, Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) in Guilin, Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) in Shanghai, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) in Hangzhou, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) in Guangzhou, and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) in Hong Kong. They are all well-connected by public transportation or taxis, with reasonable prices and travel time.