Shaanxi is a landlocked province in north-central China that served as the cradle of Chinese civilization and the eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road. Home to the world-famous Terracotta Army, the Ming-dynasty Xi'an City Wall, and the sacred cliffs of Mount Hua, Shaanxi pairs 3,000 years of imperial history with the hearty noodle-and-lamb cuisine of the Loess Plateau.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Shaanxi through its food.
Muslim Quarter Street Food Walking Tour
Includes: Beiyuanmen Street and Huajue Xiang lane packed with Hui Muslim food vendors · Rou jia mo (Xi'an's 'Chinese hamburger') sold fresh off the griddle · Charcoal-grilled yang rou chuan lamb skewers · Persimmon cakes and walnut cake for dessert near the Great Mosque end of the lane · Evening crowds and lantern-lit stalls after 6 PM
Yongxingfang Night Food Street Experience
Includes: Nightly 'throwing wine bowl' street performance · Dozens of stalls recreating a Tang-dynasty streetscape · Yangrou paomo, roujiamo, and skewers alongside sweet persimmon pancakes · Free entry with pay-as-you-go tastings · Illuminated at night with Tang-style architecture and lanterns
Biangbiang Noodle Making Class
Includes: Hands-on dough stretching and 'biang biang' slapping technique · Hot-oil chili sauce finished tableside with garlic and scallion · Small-group instruction near the South Gate of the city wall · Finished noodle meal and printed recipe card included · Indoor class, unaffected by weather or season
Yangrou Paomo Tasting and Bread-Tearing Experience
Includes: Hand-tear the flatbread yourself before it's simmered into broth · Rich lamb broth cooked to order with glass noodles · Pickled garlic and chili sauce served on the side · One of Xi'an's long-established yangrou paomo addresses · Inexpensive, filling single-bowl meal around ¥52
Xi'an Local Food Market Tour
Includes: Spice stalls stocked with dried chilies, Sichuan peppercorn, and cumin · Working wholesale market, not a tourist-oriented attraction · Busiest and most active between 7 and 10 AM · Free entry with optional small purchases from individual stalls · Fresh produce and dried-goods vendors alongside spice merchants
Defachang Dumpling Banquet Tasting
Includes: 18-course tasting menu built entirely around dumplings · Dumplings shaped and filled to resemble their ingredients · Printed guide identifying each course by name and filling · Tea service included with the tasting menu · Central location steps from the Bell Tower
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
Book tours and cooking classes at least a few days in advance — small-group experiences sell out quickly.
Come hungry — most food tours include 5-8 tastings.
Bring cash for unscheduled stops the guide may recommend.