Do I need to tip in Chinese restaurants?+
No. Tipping is not customary anywhere in mainland China and can cause confusion.
How do I order food without speaking Chinese?+
Use the camera translation on the menu, look for picture menus or QR codes, and point at what the next table has. Learn four characters: 鸡 chicken, 牛 beef, 猪 pork, 鱼 fish.
How do I say I am vegetarian in Chinese?+
我是素食者，不吃肉、不吃鱼、不吃鸡蛋 (I am vegetarian: no meat, no fish, no egg). Add 不要放肉汤 — no meat stock, which is the most common hidden ingredient.
Is street food in China safe?+
Busy stalls cooking to order in front of you are generally fine. Avoid pre-cooked food sitting out, cut fruit from carts, and ice in drinks outside cities.
Can I drink tap water in China?+
No. Bottled or boiled. Hotels provide kettles; restaurants serve boiled water or tea.
What food is China most famous for?+
Peking duck, Sichuan hotpot, Cantonese dim sum, Xi’an biangbiang noodles, Shanghai xiaolongbao and Guilin rice noodles are the dishes most worth planning a route around.
How spicy is Sichuan food really?+
Genuinely hot, and numbing rather than merely burning because of the Sichuan peppercorn. Ask for 微辣 (mild) and order structurally mild dishes like steamed fish or egg and tomato if you want no heat.
Can I find halal food in China?+
Yes. Lanzhou beef noodle chains are halal and in every city. Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter, Lanzhou, Xining, Yinchuan and Xinjiang have full halal food scenes.
Is it rude to leave food?+
Not rude, but a host who has over-ordered may read it as a comment. Take small portions, and if you cannot finish, say you are full rather than that the food was bad.
What should I drink with a meal?+
Tea, by default — usually free and refilled continuously. Beer is cheap and common. Cold water is unusual; ask for 冰水 if you want it.