Why People Choose Us:
By sharing the living history of cuisine by the hands that make it, we're changing the way people think about food and its role in the universe.
“You will hear it for yourself, and surely it will fill you with wonder,” wrote Marco Polo of his travels along with the Silk Road into the heart of a four-thousand-year-old culture. Often regarded as one of the first European explorers to bring back tales (and noodles) from the far-east, the Silk Road connected Cleopatra’s Egypt to China a thousand years before Polo was even born.
One in seven people on earth call China home, many of whom can tell and trace hundreds of stories about their community’s food heritage. That history runs deep here. Come and see the flavors merchants like Polo risked lives and years over and the stories they’ve left behind.
“You will hear it for yourself, and surely it will fill you with wonder,” wrote Marco Polo of his travels along with the Silk Road into the heart of a four-thousand-year-old culture. Often regarded as one of the first European explorers to bring back tales (and noodles) from the far-east, the Silk Road connected Cleopatra’s Egypt to China a thousand years before Polo was even born.
One in seven people on earth call China home, many of whom can tell and trace hundreds of stories about their community’s food heritage. That history runs deep here. Come and see the flavors merchants like Polo risked lives and years over and the stories they’ve left behind.
Our Locations:
Our Popular Multi-Day Trips Through China.
We’ve spent years searching for the best things to eat and do in China, everywhere from our favorite cities to the far corners of China’s wild west, and now we’re sharing our secrets with you.
We’ve personally explored, curated, and designed each of these trips that range from 4-8 days. If you’re ready to truly experience China like a local, see the best sights, and of course eat the best food – you came to the right place. Pick and choose the trips you like, or combine them to create your next ultimate adventure!
By sharing the living history of cuisine by the hands that make it, we're changing the way people think about food and its role in the universe.
Only guides from each city can give you a true taste of the area in food and culture, all trained by our founders to ensure a perfect experience. We also work with the community through local producers and partners to ensure you’re getting a real local taste of what each community can do.
We are not a tasting tour, if you leave hungry or thirsty, we aren’t doing our jobs. Most of our tours feature unlimited food and drinks (beer too!) The best part? You won’t have to worry about what to order or how to communicate with the owners at each stop. Everything we eat is tried and tested, plus you’ll see how it’s made and learn about the families who make it.
The local culinary scene in every city is defined by food and drinks, so we make sure you experience it all! Our evening tours include (unlimited) alcoholic beverages along the way, and at least one stop to sink a glass (or few) of locally produced craft beer. All your bases are covered with us.
We visit local neighborhoods where real locals live and eat. You aren’t going to find any other tourists here, or run into other tour groups. Our restaurants are local legends, family-owned and often specialize in only one dish, which means the quality is high and the flavor is even better. These places wouldn’t survive without regulars, that’s how you know it’s good.
#1 Food Experience in the World
TripAdvisor's Travelers Choice Awards ranked our Xian Evening Food Tour as the best food experience in the World!
Our guide started us off at a Buddhist temple with an adjacent vegetarian restaurant, then walked us through the former Jewish Ghetto, where 20,000 refugees lived during World War II. Winding our way through the nongtangs (old-fashioned alleyways) passing humble apartment blocks with European-style balconies, where I found the sheng jian bao of my dreams in a small storefront. They were fluffy on top, crunchy on the bottom and filled with savory, fatty juice.
In addition to trying some of the best eats in the neighborhood, you'll also have the chance to learn about the history of this community and get to meet some of the people who make the best biang biang noodles (so named for the loud way they slam onto the table) and Eight Treasures congee, which was a staple of travelers along the Silk Road thanks to its easy-to-haul ingredients like nuts, spices and seeds.
A third of our customers were referred by a previous guest. Were you one of them?!
“I took this trip immediately after Lost Plate’s other Yunnan adventure (Dali to Lijiang) and the two are very different, but both fabulous. Highlights included dinner at the winemaker’s house in Cizhong and of course Yubeng, which has views that simply cannot be beat. Even if you’re not a regular hiker (I’m not), consider doing the waterfall hike. When you add up the hotels and transport and tours and personal assistance (especially with those pesky Covid tests and health codes), never mind the unending food and drink, I can’t even believe what a value Lost Plate provides. Unless you are a fluent Chinese speaker, you’re not likely to have a more varied, fun, and delicious time in Tibetan Yunnan than by taking this tour.”
TheophaniaSeattle
August 2022
“From food, wine, places to people who live there. Had such a great experience. Food, wine and scenery. The places visited were further apart so be prepared for three hours drive. Believe me the drives between each places are worth it because the views all around you are breathtaking.”
Internationalbabe001
August 2022
“What a memorable trip! I’m not usually one to book vacations with tour companies but Lost Plate has me a convert! Everything was so easy, all I had to do was show up! Especially as a parent traveling alone with 2 kids and my Chinese skills are less than proficient, this made our vacation a breeze. I will go on every trip that Lost Plates offers, if I can. From booking to accommodations, activities, tours, timing, transportation, our sweet and knowledgeable guide, Noble, EVERYTHING was spot on. Don’t look any further, just put your vacation in the hands of Lost Plate.”
JMBrooklyn
August 2022
“This is my second multi-day tour with Lost Plate and I hope it won’t be my last. I saw all the top sights, ate like a queen, and kept my all-important health code green. The last bit might not be the most exciting part of travel but it is the most worrisome if not take care of. I know most people come to Xi’an to see the terracotta warriors and while they are spectacular, there’s so much more to Xi’an and on this tour you’ll get to experience it. The food can be the true highlight in Xi’an, at least when you’re with Lost Plate. It’s hard to choose a favorite meal but I think the evening and morning food tours of the Muslim quarter were my personal favorites. The best part of being with a group is that you can order (and taste) far more dishes than if you were on your own or with just one other person. Plus they’ve done the advance legwork to find you the best places to eat. Highest possible recommendation for anyone who wants the convenience of a tour/guide but an alternative to a big bus tour.”
TheophaniaSeattle
April 2022
“Daisy our guide was knowledgeable and fun (spoke very good English too!) and we got to taste great local food at 4 stops. Capped off the night in a cool bar with plum wine. The tuktuk ride added to the experience and some of the Chengdu food we tasted included Dan Dan noodles, Tianshui Noodles, Lamb Skewers, Dumplings etc., some seasoned with Sichuan spices and all very tasty and delicious. This was our third Lost Plate tour (Beijing evening tour and 1 week Yunnan experience prior) and as always, we had a blast and can only recommend!”
Ailton007
June 2022
“I had heard Chengdu had amazing food and this tour made sure we got to sample it all. I was only in town with a friend for 1 night so we wanted to maximize our time and eat all the food we could. This Lost Plate tour was the best way to accomplish this. I had done the Beijing Lost Plate Food Tour and loved. On this tour you not only get to eat some of the most famous dishes in this region, but you also get to find the hidden gems of the city in just a few hours. The tuktuk ride is safe and adds charm to the adventure. Our guide Patricia was wonderful and we learned so much about the food culture of Chengdu from her. We ended at the coolest little bar that had so much personality too. Will be back and will definitely try another of the Lost Plate’s tours.”
Diane J.
May 2022
My partner and I loved every single moment of this tour. The itinerary took us through breathtaking scenery off the beaten path, it felt like we went on an adventure! Our guide was incredibly attentive and helpful, and we had a lot of fun spending time with her and the rest of the crew. The food was absolutely delicious and we all looked forward to our next meal despite being still full from the previous one! We’ll definitely join more Lost Plate tours while we live in China.
Ilaria C
April 2022
I had already been on their evening food tours in Chengdu and Xi’an, and these longer trips had come highly recommended by a friend. It absolutely lived up to her hype. This is an off-the-tourist-trail adventure for sure, which might not be for everyone, but was exactly what I was looking for. The food was always delicious and the travel and accommodations were as good as the areas allowed. I would strongly recommend Lost Plate for an uncommon adventure!
NStowell
March 2022
Email: info@lostplate.com
China & Cambodia Tours: +86 156 9210 9030
Portland Tours: +1 503 409 5593
WeChat: lostplate
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