Planning a trip with the whole family – whether that means toddlers, teens, or even grandparents – can be a logistical puzzle. These curated multi-day trips focus on hands-on activities packed with local flavor (literally) and experiences that are perfect for everyone.
Before you dive into China’s rich culture and delicious food, there are a few things you should know to help you feel more comfortable and avoid any awkward moments. From water etiquette to understanding the nuances of Chinese dining customs, this quick guide will help you navigate your way through everyday experiences with ease and confidence.
You probably don’t think of China when you think of wine. That’s about to change. Hidden in China’s remote northwest, where the vast Gobi desert meets the Helan mountain range, a quiet wine revolution is unfolding. Ningxia, once known for sheep herding and sandstorms, is now producing some of the most exciting wines in the world—and almost nobody knows about it.
Planning a trip to China? For most travelers, obtaining a tourist visa (L-Visa) is essential before arrival, but there are several exceptions and visa-free options that could simplify your journey. Here’s a comprehensive look at what you need to know.
This is a story about how a yak herder, a French grape, and how a forgotten village gave rise to one of the world’s rarest wines. We begin high in the mountains of Yunnan, one of China’s Western-most provinces, where the Mekong River slices through Tibetan foothills and Catholic church spires rise from the center of timeless villages. There we meet Hongxing, a small boy herding yaks for his family in the remote village of Cizhong.
In the bustling alleys of Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter, where street food and local delicacies narrate the city’s rich history and culture, one small restaurant stands out for its unique flavors and unwavering commitment to tradition. Zhiliang Steamed Dumplings is not just a beloved staple for locals; it’s become a must-try stop for travelers seeking the authentic taste of Xi’an.
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This is not your standard "go to a market and then a street-food stall" experience. We’re way beyond that. Come visit us throughout China, Cambodia, and Portland USA.
Whether you’re trying to stream your favorite shows, access Google Maps, or simply keep in touch with friends and family back home, having the right VPN, data plan, and essential apps is key to get past China’s Great Firewall.
When I close my eyes and think of Chengdu, it’s not skyscrapers or pandas I see first – it’s a smell: chili oil, caramelized sugar, and the comforting aroma of yeast drifting up from sizzling griddles filled with golden half-moons of dough. These are dan hong gao (蛋烘糕), translated directly as egg baked pancakes, and to me they’re my entire childhood wrapped up in a delicious package.
Coffee culture isn’t strong (or native) in China, but these cafes in Beijing will have you thinking otherwise. Criteria for our list considered all of the following: good coffee, decent wifi, comfortable vibe, and clean bathrooms.
From Peking duck to the humble dumpling, we have compiled a few of our favorite foreigner-friendly local restaurants in Beijing. Criteria for this list means they have menus with English and/or photos and serve authentic and stupid-delicious fare. This is your meal itinerary if you’re traveling through Beijing. Don’t just pick one, try them all.
While traveling in China, knowing a few key phrases can go a long way in making your dining experience smoother and more enjoyable. Here’s a quick guide to essential phrases that’ll help you navigate restaurants, make payments, and engage with locals.
Whether it’s cold outside, or you just want a good place to spend the afternoon, these are our favorite Shanghai Coffee Shops. Pull up a cozy seat and watch the local life go by at these cafes.
Shanghai boasts a unique culinary style known as ‘Benbang’ (本帮菜) or ‘Hu cuisine’ (沪菜). Originating in communal neighborhoods, this cuisine emphasizes the natural essence of fresh, seasonal ingredients—from vegetables and seafood to delicate water plants. Influenced by nearby regions like Zhejiang, Suzhou, and Anhui, these dishes balance light, delicate flavors with just the right hints of sweetness and savory depth.
Craft beer hasn’t been in China as long as traditional brews, but it has been transforming local palates and making a noticeable mark on the global beer map since the late 2000s. This new wave of flavorful and character-rich beers has gone beyond well-known brands like Tsingtao or Snow, introducing a variety of creative local brews. In Shanghai, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation, the craft beer culture has exploded, fueled by a growing middle class with a taste for gourmet experiences and a desire for more than just the ordinary.
Cambodia’s rainy season, which spans from May to October, often raises concerns among travelers who worry about constant downpours disrupting their plans. But reality is quite different! Known as the “green season,” this period transforms Cambodia’s landscapes into lush, vibrant scenes that are truly breathtaking.
We love the cafe vibe in Cambodia, and throughout Phnom Penh’s bustling concrete jungle it’s quite easy to find a place to chill at one of the city’s coffee shops or cafes. Coffee has become a way of life for Cambodians, and it took us a long time to narrow down our list of favorites. The cafes here focus on espresso drinks, which leaves our coffee-snob Portland team sometimes wanting more, but make up for it with great vibes and endless menus full of fresh fruit smoothies and brunch.
Portland has what we think is the best food cart scene in the world. These Portland food carts & food trucks are our favorite food-on-wheels options in the city! Just to note, the order is not indicative of a ranking, they’re just what we think are the best Portland food carts.
Xizhou is the name of a village just outside Dali’s old town in China’s Yunnan province. Baba is local slang for bread. Xizhou Baba is the greatest thing since sliced bread – literally! As you walk along the cobble stone streets of Xizhou, it won’t take you long to recognize old charcoal ovens that bake this famous local street food. Peek inside a Baba shop, and you’ll see fresh dough being kneaded and prepared by hand. You’ve got to try this addictive snack yourself!
Xizhou is the name of a village just outside Dali’s old town in China’s Yunnan province. Baba is local slang for bread. Xizhou Baba is the greatest thing since sliced bread – literally! As you walk along the cobble stone streets of Xizhou, it won’t take you long to recognize old charcoal ovens that bake this famous local street food. Peek inside a Baba shop, and you’ll see fresh dough being kneaded and prepared by hand. You’ve got to try this addictive snack yourself!
For thousands of years, Yunnan people communicated and traded with each other along what’s known as the “Tea & Horse Road.” This ancient trading route stretched for over 4000km, and served as a link to places like India, Tibet, and Central China. While it became famous for its most traded commodities, tea and horses, it was a way of life for local nomads and small minority groups in the region.
Join us as we visit San Yue Jie, a street just outside Dali’s old town that transforms into a market every week. The street itself is named after the 3rd month of the lunar calendar, which holds the biggest festival of the year for the local Bai minority people – and the weekly market is the best place to experience their local life and culture.
Our coconutty Yunnan Palooda Dessert Recipe may not seem very “Chinese,” but that’s because it has a long history! Originally from Persia, these flavors made their way through India before eventually making its way to Yunnan, China.
Many Yunnan dishes are influenced by SE Asian flavors. Our Yunnan Ghost Chicken Recipe, known locally as guǐ jī, is no exception. Cilantro, mint, and birds eye chilies bring tons of flavor to this tasty salad.
Straight from our Yunnan cooking class, this Yunnan Clay Pot Rice Noodles Recipe (Yúnnán xiǎo guō mǐxiàn) is prepared in a small clay pot and full of flavor from fermented soybean paste and pickled cabbage.
Looking for a fresh team building or work outing idea? Our “Flavors of China” Restaurant Tour in Beijing is the perfect chance for you to visit 4 restaurants in one night, discover a plethora of new dishes, and have an amazing time together with your group.
Are you looking for the perfect holiday gift for the foodie in your life? Take a look at our favorite locally made food items in China and add them to your holiday shopping list for the foodies in your life!
If you want to try the best food in Cambodia, our first recommendation is our local food tours that will take you to no-menu, no-English humble eateries, where the best food is always hiding. If you’re at a local place with an English menu, or your hotel’s got local fare on room service, then here’s a list of Cambodian foods to try.
What to eat, where to stay, what to do, how to get around; we’ve got it all covered in our free travel guide for Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Typically made from sorghum, Baijiu (pronounced bye-joe) is the number one selling alcohol in the world, and by a long shot. Around the world each year, more baijiu is sold than whiskey, vodka, gin, tequila, and rum, combined. And yet, it remains virtually unknown outside of Chinese drinking culture.
This Shanghai Travel Guide is packed full of tips for what to eat, drink, do, and where to stay, plus a lot more!
No need to stress about where to stay in Xi’an; we’ve done the work for you! A lot of Xian’s top-rated hotels online are far from the city center, most of our selections below are in a great location and centrally located. We have guests staying in the city every night, so here is a list of their favorite Xian Hotels and places to stay – all of which we recommend and are especially great for foodies.
The following list is not ranked, and the criteria to make it on here is to be noteworthy, provide a traditional tea experience, and serve up stuff that’s stupid delicious.
We’ve put together a list the best restaurants in Chengdu to try in this amazing city. All of them offer a great variety of dishes in a foreigner-friendly environment with English menus. Our recommendation? Try them all.
Here’s our list for the best Portland chocolate shops to satisfy your sweet tooth! From amazing beans to bars to milkshakes to drinking chocolate, you can definitely fuel your chocolate addiction in this lovely city. All made with care by Portland locals, you’ll love the chocolate choices at these chocolate shops.
In Xian, noodles are reign supreme. You won’t find rice in these parts due to the climate, Xian is all about noodles and they come in every shape, size, and flavor. Shops selling factory-made noodles don’t survive in noodle country, so here’s our list of the best noodles in Xian.
There are few things humanity agrees on, and in that very short list is dumplings. In China the most popular type is called Jiaozi (饺子) or water dumplings (水饺), meaning traditionally they are boiled in water, as opposed to their many well-known and equally delicious steamed cousins.
This Beijing Travel Guide is packed full of tips for what to eat, drink, do, and where to stay, plus a lot more!
Ahh, the fabled Chinese Burger! This is the first food you should think about trying when visiting Xian. Often labeled as the world’s first burger, Roujiamo was first made about 2500 years ago. Handmade bread is crispy on the outside and soft inside and stuffed with tender fatty pork that has stewed for hours (in fact, some local shops claim it has been stewing for decades!).
At Lost Plate, we love a good bubble tea. Some of us love it a bit too much (you know who you are.) It’s common for deliveries of steamy cups of creamy tea to show up at the office daily. Even though bubble tea has permeated the globe, China is where the craft has been perfected. Here, it’s a perfect blend of both science and art. It’s just a way of life now.
The small yet rapidly growing micro-brew scene in Cambodia’s capital is what everyone in the West reminisces about. Passionate brewers setting up shop in their garage (or as close to a garage as you can have in Phnom Penh,) tinkering with local ingredients and brewing batches big enough to share at one or two bars. The result is some of the best beer you can find in Asia…and drinking it in some of the most intimate hidden gems that you’ll find anywhere.
Here’s our list of the best breweries in Portland to have a pint, grab a growler or crowler to go, and eat some delicious food. And if you join our Evening or Food Cart Food Tours, you may even get to visit one of these fine establishments and drink a pint with us!
China isn’t known for its sweets, but as the temperatures drop and we approach the winter holidays, there are a few special treats that start appearing on the streets of each city. Here’s a list of the top 5 seasonal treats that you’ll find all over China in the winter.
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