Guide to Dietary Restrictions and Special Needs for Traveling in China

When traveling in China, there are differences in food culture and dining services across different regions. However, in recent years, inclusiveness regarding special dietary needs has significantly improved. Below is a detailed guide for Halal food, vegetarian options, and other common dietary restrictions:

1. Halal Food

1. Distribution Areas
2. Northwest Regions (Xinjiang, Ningxia, Gansu, etc.): Halal catering is very common, especially in Uyghur restaurants in Xinjiang and Hui restaurants in Ningxia, offering authentic Halal dishes (such as pilaf with lamb, pulled noodles, and baked buns).
3. Other Major Cities: In cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Xian, where Muslim communities reside (like Niujie in Beijing and Huimin Street in Xian), there are numerous Halal restaurants. Some chain fast-food brands (such as "Ma Zilu Beef Noodles" and "Western Ma Hua") also offer Halal-certified food.

4. Airports and High-Speed Railway Stations: Major transportation hubs usually have Halal food counters, but the selection is limited, so it’s advisable to plan ahead.

5. How to Identify Halal Restaurants

6. The front door or menu of the restaurant may display the words "Halal" (Qīngzhēn) or "Hui People" (Huímín).

7. Some restaurants hang the green circular Halal certification mark (Arabic "حلال"), giving priority to such certified restaurants.

8. Precautions

9. Some non-Halal restaurants may use shared kitchenware or cooking oil, so it's best to confirm with the staff beforehand.
10. Avoid ordering pork-containing dishes (such as braised pork and sausages) in non-Halal restaurants, as some seasonings might contain animal ingredients.
11. Recommended APPs: Use Dianping or Baidu Maps to search for "Halal restaurants" and select shops with higher ratings.

2. Vegetarian Options (Vegetarian & Vegan)

1. Traditional Vegetarian Culture
2. Buddhist Temple Vegetarian Cuisine: Many temples in China (such as Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou and Longquan Temple in Beijing) offer pure vegetarian dishes that strictly use plant-based ingredients, free from eggs, milk, and five pungent flavors (onions, garlic, etc.).

3. Mock Meat Vegetarian Restaurants: Some high-end vegetarian restaurants (such as "Fu He Hui" in Shanghai and "Jing Zhao Yin" in Beijing) mimic the texture of meat using soy products, which is worth trying for Chinese-style vegetarian cuisine.

4. Vegetarian Choices in Regular Restaurants

5. Common Vegetarian Dishes: "Three Freshes" (potatoes, eggplants, green peppers), Mapo Tofu (ensure no minced meat), stir-fried seasonal vegetables, etc.

6. Potential Risks: Some restaurants may use pork fat or chicken essence for seasoning, so it’s important to specify “strict vegetarian” (Vegan) and emphasize “no animal oil or dairy” (translation tools can assist).

7. Specialized Vegetarian Restaurants

8. Large cities like Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xiamen have more vegetarian restaurants offering both Chinese and Western choices.

9. Recommended Chain Brands: "Jujube Tree" and "Su Man Xiang", providing buffet or set meal services.

10. Practical Suggestions

11. Hot pot restaurants can offer pure vegetable broth (such as mushroom soup) paired with vegetables and tofu.
12. Convenience stores (like 7-11 and Family Mart) sell ready-to-eat salads, rice balls, and other simple vegetarian options.

3. Other Dietary Restrictions

1. Kosher Food

2. There are very few Kosher food restaurants in China, so it’s recommended to contact Jewish communities or international hotels in Shanghai and Beijing to customize meals in advance.

3. Allergies and Gluten-Free

4. Regular restaurants do not strictly label allergens, so it’s suggested to carry translation cards noting allergic components (such as peanuts, gluten).

5. Imported supermarkets (such as CityShop and Ole’) sell gluten-free food.

6. Low Sugar/Low Salt Needs

7. Chinese dishes generally have heavy oil and salt content. You can request "less salt and sugar" (Shǎo yán shǎo táng) or choose Cantonese or Jiangsu-Zhejiang cuisines.

4. Practical Tools and Techniques

1. Translation Tools

2. Use WeChat’s "Scan" feature to translate menus or save pre-translated Chinese cards indicating your dietary needs (such as "I don't eat pork" or "Pure vegetarian").

3. Takeout and Reservations

4. Platforms like Meituan and Ele.me allow filtering by "Halal" or "Vegetarian" categories and support English interfaces.

5. Emergency Situations

6. If uncertain about ingredients, consider choosing international chain brands (like Starbucks, McDonald's) or five-star hotel restaurants, which have stricter food safety standards.

5. Special Situation Recommendations

• Traveling in Remote Areas: Tibet and mountainous areas in Yunnan have fewer Halal/vegetarian options; it’s advisable to bring dry rations (like energy bars, canned food).
• During Festivals: During Spring Festival and National Day holidays, some restaurants may close, so it’s best to confirm their operating hours in advance.