Changchun is the capital of Jilin province in northeast China, a planned railway-and-capital city best known as China's 'City of Automobiles' and for the former imperial palace of Puyi, the last Qing emperor, who ruled the Japanese-controlled state of Manchukuo from here. Wide boulevards, the Jingyuetan forest lake, China's oldest film studio and long, dry winters make it a quieter, cheaper alternative to Harbin and Shenyang.
Changchun eats Dongbei (Northeastern Chinese) food with a strong Jilin and Korean-Chinese accent. Its table is built on sweet-and-sour guobaorou (double-fried pork), pickled-cabbage and pork stews (suan cai bai rou), di san xian (potato, eggplant and green pepper), crispy fried chicken (xiangsu ji) and egg-battered pan-fried tofu (guota doufu). Time-honoured Jilin brands such as Chunfahe (1935), Zhenbutong, Yang Mazi (1896), Huibaozhen (1925) and Yuanshengju (1937) anchor the heritage scene around Nanguan and People's Square, while Korean-Chinese cold noodles, grilled cold-noodle sheets and barbecue crowd the Guilin Road and Hongqi Street area. Portions are large, prices are low, and beer is the default drink.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Changchun.
Guobaorou (锅包肉)
Thin pork slices battered, double-fried and tossed in a sweet-sour glaze; the Korean-Chinese style is a popular local variant
Where to try: Chunfahe, Yinglan Guobaorou, Wangji Braised Bone Restaurant
Price: ¥40-60 (~$6-9)
Suan cai bai rou (酸菜白肉)
Pickled cabbage stewed with sliced pork belly, often in a clay pot with glass noodles
Where to try: Dongbei farmhouse restaurants
Price: ¥50-90 (~$7-13)
Xiangsu ji (香酥鸡)
Whole crispy chicken, steamed then deep-fried, a Jilin banquet classic
Where to try: Zhenbutong, Chunfahe, Changchun Restaurant
Price: ¥50-90 (~$7-13)
Guota doufu (锅塌豆腐)
Egg-battered tofu slabs pan-fried then simmered in a light sauce
Where to try: Zhenbutong, Chunfahe, Changchun Restaurant
Price: ¥30-50 (~$4-7)
Korean-style cold noodles (大冷面)
Chewy buckwheat noodles in icy beef broth with pickles and egg
Where to try: State-Run Cold Noodle Restaurant, Shanghai Road
Price: ¥20-35 (~$3-5)
Jiang gutou (酱骨头)
Soy-braised pork bones eaten by hand, served with mashed potato
Where to try: Wangji Braised Bone Restaurant
Price: ¥50-90 (~$7-13)
Jitang doufu chuan (鸡汤豆腐串)
Dried tofu sheets rolled on skewers and simmered in chicken broth; a breakfast and late-night staple
Where to try: Lao Hantou shops and local breakfast stalls
Price: ¥3-6 (~$0.5-1) per skewer
Chunbing (春饼)
Thin wheat pancakes wrapped around braised meats, eggs and shredded vegetables
Where to try: Laochang Spring Pancake
Price: ¥40-70 (~$6-10)
Tongguo shuan yangrou (铜锅涮羊肉)
Hand-sliced lamb boiled in a charcoal copper pot with sesame dipping sauce
Where to try: Yuanshengju
Price: ¥80-120 (~$12-18)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Dongbei Pastries And Pancakes
Dongbei Smoked And Braised Meats
Jilin Cuisine
Thai
Western
Food tours & tastings in Changchun
Eat your way through Changchun with a guide.
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Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Kao lengmian (烤冷面)
Griddled cold-noodle sheet brushed with egg, sauce and sausage; about 8-12 yuan
Find it at: Guilin Hutong food street and Hongqi Street
Kao shaopi (烤苕皮)
Grilled sweet-potato noodle sheets with chilli; about 10 yuan per portion
Find it at: Guilin Hutong food street
Li Laoer chaofen (李老二炒粉)
Stir-fried starch noodles, about 10 yuan per portion
Find it at: Guilin Hutong food street
Chuan'r (烤串)
Cumin lamb and beef skewers, 3-5 yuan each, eaten with beer
Find it at: Guilin Road and Hongqi Street
Fang Yan kao zhushou (方燕烤猪手)
Grilled pig trotters, a stall named in Guilin Road food guides
Find it at: Guilin Hutong food street
Jijia (鸡架)
Chicken racks smoked, sauced, grilled or fried; a late-night snack eaten with beer
Find it at: Barbecue restaurants across the city
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Guilin Hutong food street (桂林胡同美食街)
A 531 m lane running from Tongzhi Street east to Renmin Street with about 165 shops and stalls selling skewers, cold noodles, fried noodles and seafood barbecue
Hours: Open all day; most active in the evening, with many stalls open until about 2AM
Dingfengzhen bakeries (鼎丰真)
Heritage Jilin pastry shop founded in 1911; branches on Sima Road and Chongqing Road sell mooncakes, sachima and fried sweet dough
Yongchun Commercial City (永春商贸城)
Wholesale and retail complex near Sima Road where Zhenbutong's main store sits among food and goods stalls
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch runs about 11:00-13:30 and dinner 17:00-20:30; barbecue and skewer places stay open past midnight
Order with Meituan, Dianping or Amap; show a dish name in Chinese characters or point at the menu photos
Dongbei portions are large; two diners can share two mains plus a vegetable dish
Pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay; foreign cards work only at hotel restaurants and large malls
Beer is sold by the bottle or crate, about ¥8-15 (~$1-2) a bottle at barbecue places
- Vegetarian
- Limited: order di san xian, tudou si (potato shreds), guota doufu, cold dishes and tomato-egg; say 'wo chi su, bu yao rou' (我吃素，不要肉) and confirm no pork lard or meat broth
- Halal
- Look for the Qingzhen (清真) sign; beef and lamb dumpling houses such as Huibaozhen on Changtong Road are long established
- Gluten free
- Very difficult: dumplings, pancakes, noodles and soy sauce are everywhere; plain grilled meat and rice are the safest orders, and a Chinese-language allergy card helps
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ¥25-60 per meal (~$4-9) | Cold noodles, dumplings, spring pancakes and skewer meals at local restaurants |
| Mid-range | ¥70-160 per meal (~$10-24) | Dongbei stews, guobaorou, braised bone and copper-pot hotpot for one or two diners |
| Upscale | ¥160-400 per meal (~$24-60) | Hotel Chinese restaurants such as Pinyue at Hyatt Regency Changchun |