Food & Culture
What to eat, how to order, and cultural dos & don'ts
How to Order
- 1 Find restaurants with photo menus
- 2 Use translation app to scan the menu
- 3 Point at what you want — it works!
Spice Levels
Mild (微辣)
A gentle warmth that most people can handle
Medium (中辣)
Noticeable heat — Sichuan peppercorn numbness included
Hot (特辣)
For true chili warriors — be prepared to sweat
Must-Try Foods
Dietary Needs
Vegetarian: 我吃素 (Wǒ chī sù)
Halal: 清真 (Qīngzhēn)
Allergy: 我对...过敏 (Wǒ duì...guòmǐn)
Dos & Don'ts
Don't
Don't stick chopsticks upright in rice
Don't blow your nose in public
Don't tip — not part of Chinese culture
Do
Don't tip — not part of Chinese culture
Receive gifts/business cards with both hands
Elders eat first
Good to Know
Personal space doesn't exist in crowds
Spitting is common — not personal
🚨 Bring your own toilet paper!
🍽️ Food Safety for Travelers
What every foreign visitor should know before eating in China.
🚱 Never Drink Tap Water
Tap water in China is NOT safe to drink. Always use bottled or boiled water.
- ▸Buy bottled water from convenience stores (¥2-5 per bottle)
- ▸Ask for "rè shuǐ" (hot water) — it's boiled and safe
- ▸Avoid ice cubes in street drinks unless you know they use purified water
- ▸Brush teeth with bottled water if you have a sensitive stomach
🍢 Street Food: Safe or Not?
Street food is a highlight of Chinese cuisine — but choose wisely.
- ✅Look for long queues — locals know what's good and clean
- ✅Food cooked fresh in front of you (steaming hot = safe)
- ❌Avoid food that's been sitting out for hours (room temperature = bacteria)
- ❌Raw or cold dishes from street stalls are higher risk
- 💡� Trust your nose — if it smells off, skip it
🌶️ Spice Levels — Be Honest
Sichuan and Hunan cuisines are FAMOUSLY spicy. Even "medium" can overwhelm unprepared tourists.
- •Say "bù yào là" (不辣 — no spicy) if you can't handle heat
- •"Wēi là" (微辣 — mild spicy) is still quite spicy by Western standards
- •Sichuan peppercorn (málà) causes a numbing sensation — it's not an allergic reaction
- •If your mouth is on fire: drink milk, NOT water. Yogurt drinks are sold everywhere
⚠️ Allergy Translation Card
Show this to your server. Print or screenshot before your trip.
花生 (huāshēng)
虾/贝类 (xiā/bèilèi)
大豆/酱油 (dàdòu/jiàngyóu)
牛奶/奶制品 (niúnǎi/nǎizhìpǐn)
鸡蛋 (jīdàn)
小麦/面筋 (xiǎomài/miànjīn)
味精 (wèijīng)
芝麻 (zhīma)
🗣️ Say: "I am allergic to ___ . Please make sure my food does not contain it."
"我对___过敏，请确保我的食物不含___。" (Wǒ duì ___ guòmǐn, qǐng quèbǎo wǒ de shíwù bù hán ___.)