Vegan in China

Vegan in China 🌱Your go-to source for plant-based food & travel in China 🇨🇳

09/09/2026

Do you dare try stinky tofu?

📍安静夜市 Anjing Night Market (Harbin)

China can feel like a world away, but after seven years living here, it's become obvious to me that we're all navigating...
01/09/2026

China can feel like a world away, but after seven years living here, it's become obvious to me that we're all navigating the same human journey 🌎 💖

I was invited by the Guiyang Confucius Academy to learn about the Four Life Rites: the traditional ceremonies that mark life's key milestones of locals. Swipe to learn more!

Do you celebrate similar milestones in your culture? Let me know in the comments!



✍️ First Writing Ceremony
Primary students write their first character, learning that education is about cultivating virtue, not just knowledge.

🎓 Coming of Age Ceremony
Students hike together before the Gaokao, then gather at Dacheng Gate to express gratitude and vow to integrate their knowledge into action.

🎓 Coming of Age Ceremony
Students hike together before the Gaokao, then gather at Dacheng Gate to express gratitude and vow to integrate their knowledge into action.

💍 The Wedding Ceremony
Group weddings are not unheard of in China, especially on Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine's Day). I love that love is something to celebrate together as a community!

💍 The Wedding Ceremony
Group weddings are not unheard of in China, especially on Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine's Day). I love that love is something to celebrate together as a community!

👵 Respecting the Elderly Ceremony
In an aging society, filial piety reminds us that caring for our elders is more important than ever.

How are these milestones celebrated where you are?

👵 Respecting the Elderly Ceremony
In an aging society, filial piety reminds us that caring for our elders is more important than ever.

How are these milestones celebrated where you are?

29/08/2026

Would you try KFC-flavoured oreos?!

I hosted my first vegan food tour in Beijing! These are some of the dishes guests insisted we order another round of! 🍄‍...
17/08/2026

I hosted my first vegan food tour in Beijing! These are some of the dishes guests insisted we order another round of!

🍄‍🟫 炸蘑菇 Zhà mógū - fried mushrooms. Better than fried chicken for both taste and cruelty-free foodie wins!

🍩 红糖糍粑 Hóngtáng cíbā - brown sugar fritters.
Guests said they tasted like donuts, which in a country that doesn't really do sweets is a BIG compliment!

🌵凉拌沙葱 Liángbàn shā cōng - cold dressed desert leek. Such a unique texture and very refreshing. This dish was gobbled up seconds after hitting the table!

🥟 素食烧卖 Sùshí shāomai - vegan shaomai (steamed). A special find in an Inner Mongolian restaurant where normally lamb and beef dominate the menu! These were stuffed with tofu, vermicelli andnassorted veggies.

🥟 素食烧卖 Sùshí shāomai - vegan shaomai (fried). Love that little crispy starch skirt on these babies! Do you prefer fried or steamed dumplings?

DM's are open if you want to book a similar vegan food experience in Beijing!

15/08/2026

I never thought I'd find a vegan version of this dish!

锅包肉 Guō bāo ròu is a variation of sweet and sour pork from the Northeastern region of China, and an absolute MUST-EAT! Don't worry, you don't need to break vegan to try it because I found a vegan version made from oyster mushrooms. The texture is actually so meaty that I would challenge meat-eaters to try and let me know if they can tell the difference!

The mushrooms have been pressed to release the water, then dipped in a batter and deep fried. They're then coated in a delicious orange-ginger sweet and sour glaze that manages to be both comforting and elevated. I would definitely come back to Harbin just for this dish!

Other dishes mentioned:
酸菜炖粉条 Suāncài dùn fěntiáo - Pickled cabbage stew. I recommend adding vinegar if you want it extra sour!
素馅儿饼 Sù xiàn er bǐng - Vegan meat-stuffed pancake. This dish is available at most vegan restaurants (at least in Northern China) and my must-order every time. Delicious the next day for breakfast or a sneaky snack! I also like to eat it cold.

Restaurant: 明静苑有机素食餐厅 in Harbin

08/08/2026

New China Bucket List Item! ✅

I am kind of a morning person...but not a "out of the house dressed and ready before 7 am" kind of morning person. But Dongbei markets start at 4am, and the vendors' energy is so contagious it could *almost* replace my coffee.

And while people say that Chinese street vendors are just after your money, that's just NOT the case in Dongbei! I was FLOORED by the generosity. People kept handing me samples left and right, but all they wanted in return was to know if I liked it! Of course, I did end up buying some things, and that's when I got my second surprise: the prices! 1.5 yuan ($0.20 USD) for a stuffed pastry-pancake bigger than my face. 9 yuan ($1.30 USD) for a whole kilo of mangosteen. 3.5 yuan ($0.50 USD) for a bag of delicious tofu skin snacks.

7 years into this vegan in China treasure hunt thing, I still get caught off guard by mornings like this. There's always something new to try and experience!

Would a 4am wake-up be worth it for you? Be honest — I almost said no (and also started at 6:45 😅).

📍安静街早市 Ānjìng jiē zǎo shì
"Quiet market morning market" on Amap

06/08/2026

Don't sleep on Harbin in the summer! ☀️ 🤩

While this city has gone viral for its ice and snow festival, I think the best time to go anywhere in China is in the off-season (you've also seen those viral crowds on public holidays... Ew!).

This time of year Harbin is still super lively without being overrun with tourists. There's buskers, morning markets, spas and soooo much delicious food. Plus, since it's located in the northeast, it's much cooler and less humid than the rest of the country!

28/07/2026

I could eat this everyday! 😋

麻辣烫 Málà tàng (literally mouth numbing spicy soup) is one of my favourite Chinese dishes. Originally from Sichuan, it has made its way to Northeastern China where it has been reinvented with the addition of creamy sesame-peanut paste to soften the spice and add an irresistible creaminess.

Most of the time your ingredients are boiled in a bone broth, but I happened to come across this pure vegan restaurant in Harbin. Lucky me, it had only opened a week before I arrived, so if you're in Harbin go show the new vegan business some love!

素食麻辣烫 Sùshí málà tàng
📍哈尔滨 - 分部街66-4号 (Fenbu street on Amap, look for n. 66)

If you're craving a Malatang but can't find a vegan place, try to find one that can boil your ingredients in a fresh pot of water. Some places boil ingredients in a communal pot, but others can do individual, it really just depends on the size of the shop. There'll be no lack of flavour once they add the chilli oil, soy sauce, vinegar and sesame!

BTW I just released a Harbin food guide if you're interested in more authentic Chinese vegan eats! Link in the comments!

20/07/2026

What's your favourite filling?

↑ 早阳肉包(东直门南小街店) Zaoyang Roubao

📍 东直门内南小街18号楼18-13室 Dongzhimen inner street, 18 (Beijing)

16/07/2026

How do you say "vegan" in Chinese? 🤔

This is a toughie... because while vegan practices originated in Asia, it's more complicated in the modern Chinese context.

🌱 "素 sù" is used interchangeably to mean both vegan and vegetarian, and can even sometimes just mean "simple" --- look out for "素面sù miàn"🍜 which are plain noodles usually served in meat broth and a token green vegetable🙈 .

👉🏻 You can say "我吃纯素 Wǒ chī chún sù“ which means "I eat purely vegan", but honestly I would always follow up with clarifications about what I can and cannot eat. Comment ☕ and I'll send you the link for my FREE language card with common ingredients to help you out 💛

But before you freak out, THERE ARE VEGAN RESTAURANTS IN CHINA! 🤭 Especially if you go to bigger cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou (which I recommend anyways for first-timers to China), you'll have plenty of choice. 🐮 Happy Cow is alright (only tourists use that),🍃 素食雷达 Veg radar Wechat mini app is a local option, and I also like to use 🍺 Dianping (not vegan-specific, but just look up 素食餐厅 Sùshí cāntīng for veg restaurants close to you).

What other worries do you have about visiting China as a vegan? Drop your questions in the comments and I'll answer them! 👇🏻

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