Yangzhou (扬州) is a Jiangsu canal city on the north bank of the Yangtze, about 90-120 minutes by rail from Shanghai and 30-60 minutes from Nanjing. It is known for Slender West Lake, private gardens, the Grand Canal and Huaiyang cuisine.
Yangzhou is the home of Huaiyang cuisine, one of the Eight Great Cuisines of China and the cooking style behind state banquets. It favours fresh river ingredients, fine knife work, long braising and clear broths with a restrained sweetness. The city's signature items are lion's head meatballs (狮子头), dasi ganzhi (大煮干丝), Yangzhou fried rice (扬州炒饭) and crab-roe soup dumplings (蟹黄汤包), eaten at morning tea in teahouses such as Fuchun and Yechun. A mix of Michelin Bib Gourmand kitchens, heritage teahouses and Dongguan Street snack shops allows a solo visitor to eat well from about CNY 25 to CNY 100 (~$3.5-14) per meal.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Yangzhou.
Lion's Head Meatball (狮子头)
A fist-sized, loosely hand-chopped pork meatball braised in clear broth with cabbage or crab roe; soft enough to eat with a spoon
Where to try: Cai Gen Xiang Xiao Guan, Shiweitian, Lion House, Yiyuan Hotel Restaurant
Price: CNY 40-120 (~$6-17)
Dasi Ganzhi (大煮干丝)
Thin strips of firm tofu simmered in chicken broth with ham, shrimp and mushrooms
Where to try: Fuchun Teahouse, Shuang Dong, Cai Gen Xiang Xiao Guan
Price: CNY 28-68 (~$4-9.5)
Crab-roe Soup Dumplings (蟹黄汤包)
Large steamed dumplings with a thin skin, rich aspic broth and crab roe; sip the broth through a straw first
Where to try: Fuchun Teahouse, Yechun Teahouse, Huayuan Teahouse
Price: CNY 25-60 (~$3.5-8.5) per basket
Yangzhou Fried Rice (扬州炒饭)
Separate, lightly oiled grains of rice stir-fried with egg, ham, shrimp and peas
Where to try: Cai Gen Xiang Xiao Guan, Shuang Dong, Shiweitian
Price: CNY 20-45 (~$3-6)
Salted Goose (盐水鹅)
Cold, brined goose sliced thin, a Huaiyang cold-plate classic
Where to try: Cai Gen Xiang Xiao Guan, Lu's Ancient House
Price: CNY 38-78 (~$5.5-11)
Three-diced Bun (三丁包)
Steamed bun filled with diced chicken, pork and bamboo shoot, a Fuchun house speciality
Where to try: Fuchun Teahouse, Gonghechun
Price: CNY 8-20 (~$1-3)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Huaiyang
Food tours & tastings in Yangzhou
Eat your way through Yangzhou with a guide.
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Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Three-diced buns (三丁包)
Steamed buns filled with diced chicken, pork and bamboo shoot or dried tofu
Find it at: Fuchun Teahouse, 35 Desheng Bridge; Gonghechun, Ganquan Road
Lotus-root balls (藕圆)
Fried balls of glutinous rice and lotus root, a Yangzhou snack
Find it at: Cu Cha Dan Fan and stalls along Dongguan Street
Crab-roe soup dumplings (蟹黄汤包)
Large soup dumplings drunk through a straw, seasonal in autumn
Find it at: Fuchun Teahouse and Yechun Teahouse
Yangzhou fried rice (扬州炒饭)
Egg-and-rice stir fry with ham, shrimp and peas
Find it at: Cai Gen Xiang Xiao Guan, 26 Yuandong Street, and most restaurants
Pan-fried potstickers (锅贴)
Crisp-bottomed pork dumplings
Find it at: Gonghechun, Ganquan Road
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Dongguan Street (东关街)
Pedestrianised Ming-Qing street of about 1.1 km with snack stalls, teahouses and craft shops running to the Dongguan Gate ferry on the Grand Canal
Hours: Daily, typically 8:30AM-10PM (varies by shop)
Pishi Street (皮市街) and He Garden area
Quieter lanes beside Dongguan Street with local noodle and snack shops
Hours: Daily, typically 7AM-9PM
Wenchang Pavilion area food street
Central commercial area around Wenchang Pavilion and Wenchang Middle Road with branches of Gonghechun, Shuang Dong and Yiyuan
Hours: Daily, typically 7AM-9PM
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Morning tea (早茶) runs roughly 6:30-10AM; arrive before 8AM at Fuchun and Yechun to avoid a queue.
Order several small dishes and share; a single traveler can ask for half portions with 半份 (bàn fèn).
Huaiyang cooking is mildly sweet; say 少放糖 (shǎo fàng táng) for less sugar.
Use Dianping (大众点评) or Meituan to check queue numbers and book tables; Amap shows opening hours.
Crab dishes peak in autumn (October-November); spring is best for river fish and shad.
Pay by Alipay or WeChat Pay; link an international card in the app before arrival.
- Vegetarian
- Limited in teahouses, where stock and fillings use pork and chicken; Buddhist-style vegetarian kitchens near Daming Temple are the reliable options. Say 我吃素 (wǒ chī sù) and confirm the broth.
- Halal
- Few options; look for the 清真 (qīngzhēn) sign and check Dianping; Lanzhou-style noodle shops near the railway station are the practical choice.
- Gluten free
- Difficult; buns, dumplings, noodles and soy sauce all contain wheat. Steamed fish, plain rice and stir-fried vegetables are safer.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | CNY 25-50 (~$3.5-7) per meal | Teahouse breakfast at Gonghechun or Cu Cha Dan Fan and snack-shop lunches on Dongguan Street |
| Mid-range | CNY 60-130 (~$8.5-18) per person | Fuchun, Yechun, Shuang Dong, Cai Gen Xiang Xiao Guan and Shiweitian |
| Upscale | CNY 160-350 (~$22-49) per person | Quyuan Teahouse, Lu's Ancient House and Shan Restaurant at the Yangzhou Guest House |