Jiangsu is a coastal province in eastern China, on the northern side of the Yangtze River Delta and the Yellow Sea. It is one of China's wealthiest and most densely populated provinces, anchored by the capital Nanjing and by Suzhou, the province's largest city, whose classical gardens are UNESCO-listed. Jiangsu is celebrated for its canal-laced water towns, Grand Canal heritage, Taihu Lake, and refined Huaiyang and Jiangnan cuisine.
Jiangsu cuisine (Su cai) is one of China's eight great traditions and divides into Huaiyang (Yangzhou and Huai'an), Jinling (Nanjing), Suzhou-Wuxi and Xuhai sub-styles. It emphasizes knife work, stocks and preserving each ingredient's natural taste. Nanjing is known for salted duck and duck-blood soup, Yangzhou for fried rice, three-diced buns and lion's-head meatballs, Suzhou for delicate noodles and squirrel-shaped fish, and Wuxi for sweet braised spare ribs. Hairy crab from Yangcheng Lake and Taihu whitebait, whitefish and shrimp define the autumn and spring seasons.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Jiangsu.
Nanjing Salted Duck (Yanshui Ya)
Duck rubbed with salt and spices, rested, poached and air-dried, served cold and tender
Where to try: Nanjing Impressions, Plum Garden, Nanjing
Price: CNY 38-98 (USD 6-15)
Yangzhou Fried Rice
Egg fried rice with shrimp, ham, peas and mushrooms, glossy and lightly seasoned
Where to try: Yechun Teahouse, Yangzhou Yan, Yangzhou
Price: CNY 28-68 (USD 4-10)
Lion's-Head Meatballs (Shizi Tou)
Large soft pork meatballs braised with cabbage, a Huaiyang classic
Where to try: Yangzhou Yan, Plum Garden
Price: CNY 48-98 (USD 7-15)
Wuxi Braised Spare Ribs
Ribs braised with soy and sugar until the meat falls from the bone
Where to try: Sanfengqiao Meat Shop, Wuxi
Price: CNY 25-60 (USD 4-9)
Suzhou Noodles (Aozao and soup noodles)
Clear or red broth noodles with separate toppings such as braised fish or stir-fried eel
Where to try: Zhu Hongxing, Suzhou; Ao Zao Guan, Kunshan
Price: CNY 25-60 (USD 4-9)
Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish
Boneless fish fried into a squirrel shape and dressed with sweet-sour sauce
Where to try: Songhelou, Deyuelou, Suzhou
Price: CNY 128-268 (USD 19-40)
Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crab
Steamed freshwater crab eaten with ginger vinegar, in season October to December
Where to try: Bacheng, Yangcheng Lake
Price: CNY 100-400 (USD 15-60)
Soup Dumplings (Tangbao / Xiaolongbao)
Wuxi's larger, sweeter version with a thicker skin
Where to try: Wang Xingji, Wuxi; Fuchun, Yangzhou
Price: CNY 20-60 (USD 3-9)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Huaiyang Dim Sum And Tea
Seafood
Food tours & tastings in Jiangsu
Eat your way through Jiangsu with a guide.
Browse food experiences in JiangsuWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Duck blood and vermicelli soup
Soup with duck blood, tofu and glass noodles, a Nanjing morning staple
Find it at: Fuzimiao and Lao Men Dong, Nanjing
Osmanthus glutinous rice cake
Sweet snack from Qinhuai stalls
Find it at: Fuzimiao, Nanjing
Pingjiang Road snacks
Sesame sweets, pastries and rice wine along Suzhou's canal lane
Find it at: Pingjiang Road, Suzhou
Crab shell pastries (xieke huang)
Flaky baked pastry with scallion and pork filling
Find it at: Suzhou and Yangzhou
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Fuzimiao Snack Quarter
Pedestrian streets with snack stalls and duck restaurants around the Confucius Temple
Hours: Daily 10AM-10PM
Pingjiang Road, Suzhou
Canal-side lane of teahouses, snack stalls and small restaurants
Hours: Daily 10AM-10PM
Dongguan Street, Yangzhou
Historic pedestrian street of snacks, teahouses and shops
Hours: Daily 9AM-9PM
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Menus are usually Chinese-only outside hotels and tourist restaurants; use Google Translate camera mode, Baidu Translate or photo menus on Dianping.
Payment is by Alipay or WeChat Pay; foreign cards are accepted at few venues, so link a foreign card in advance and carry some CNY cash.
Dianping (Chinese app) is used for reviews and table booking; Amap (Gaode) and Baidu Maps give accurate locations and hours.
Whole fish and crab are priced by weight; confirm the price before ordering.
Tipping is not customary.
Su and Wuxi cuisine tend to be sweet; ask for less sugar (shao fang tang).
- Vegetarian
- Limited but workable; Jiming Temple Vegetarian Restaurant is the reliable choice in Nanjing. Elsewhere broths contain pork or lard; say wo chi su (I eat vegetarian).
- Halal
- Available at Hui Muslim beef noodle and lamb shops in Nanjing and Yangzhou; look for the halal (qingzhen) sign.
- Gluten free
- Rice dishes are common but soy sauce is used in most sauces; wheat noodles and dumplings are widespread.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | CNY 20-50 (USD 3-7) | Noodle shops, dumplings, teahouse snacks and street food |
| Mid-range | CNY 80-180 (USD 12-27) | Sit-down Huaiyang, Su and Wuxi restaurants |
| Upscale | CNY 300+ per meal (USD 45+) | Hotel banquet rooms, Michelin-listed restaurants and crab feasts |