Shaoxing travel guide: where to stay, what to do and where to eat in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China.
Shaoxing cuisine is a Zhejiang style built on the city's canal fish and shrimp, preserved vegetables (meigan cai), and above all huangjiu (Shaoxing yellow rice wine), used both for drinking and for cooking and 'drunken' dishes such as drunken chicken and drunken crab. The city is also the setting of Lu Xun's story Kong Yiji, and the Xianheng tavern from that story remains its best-known restaurant, where warmed huangjiu is served with fennel beans and stinky tofu.
Top restaurants
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Restaurants by cuisine
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Dumplings
Hunan Cuisine
Shaoxing Cuisine
Shaoxing Snacks
Tea And Snacks
Food tours & tastings in Shaoxing
Eat your way through Shaoxing with a guide.
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Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Cangqiao Zhijie snack street
Canal-side old-town street lined with snack stalls and small restaurants including stinky tofu and braised-pork shops
Hours: Most shops open roughly 10:00-21:00 daily
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Shaoxing huangjiu is traditionally served warm, often with a few dried plums; ask for it warmed (wen jiu)
Drunken (zui) dishes such as drunken chicken and crab are served cold and are marinated in huangjiu
Many Shaoxing dishes are salty and rich from preserved vegetables and soy; order steamed greens alongside
Tipping is not customary in mainland China
Use the Dianping or Amap app to confirm opening hours, since small shops change hours without notice
Lunch runs about 11:00-14:00 and many restaurants close between lunch and dinner
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ¥30 (~$4 USD) per person at a snack house such as Tongxin Lou | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |