How people eat in China
50 indicators exploring everyday meals, ingredients and food culture. Information is completed progressively from documented evidence.
Not all data are comparable: food supply, purchases and intake are different measures. Check the period, population and method for each finding. Qualitative descriptions do not establish percentages or amounts.
Timing and company
0/8
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Meal times | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Meals per day | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Meal duration | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Daily energy distribution | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Weekdays and weekends | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Eating at home and away | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Cooking frequency | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Eating together | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
Pantry and recipes
0/2
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Most consumed ingredients | Awaiting research |
| Ingredient prevalence in recipes | Awaiting research |
Cereals and plant foods
0/6
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Cereals and cereal products | Awaiting research |
| Bread | Awaiting research |
| Pulses | Awaiting research |
| Vegetables | Awaiting research |
| Fruit | Awaiting research |
| Potatoes, roots and tubers | Awaiting research |
Protein foods
0/5
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Meat | Awaiting research |
| Fish and seafood | Awaiting research |
| Eggs | Awaiting research |
| Milk and dairy products | Awaiting research |
| Protein sources | Awaiting research |
Fats, flavours and condiments
0/3
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Cooking fats | Awaiting research |
| Herbs and spices | Awaiting research |
| Sauces and condiments | Awaiting research |
Meal composition
0/6
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Breakfast composition | Awaiting research |
| Main meal composition | Awaiting research |
| Dinner composition | Awaiting research |
| Appetisers and snacks | Awaiting research |
| Desserts and sweets | Awaiting research |
| Portion sizes | Awaiting research |
Techniques and equipment
0/5
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Cooking techniques | Awaiting research |
| Vegetable preparation | Awaiting research |
| Food preservation | Awaiting research |
| Fermented foods | Awaiting research |
| Kitchen equipment | Awaiting research |
Drinks
0/3
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Everyday drinks | Awaiting research |
| Coffee and tea preparation | Awaiting research |
| Drinks with meals | Awaiting research |
Nutrition and dietary patterns
0/3
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Energy and nutrients | Awaiting research |
| Salt and sugars | Awaiting research |
| Dietary patterns | Awaiting research |
Shopping, prices and waste
0/7
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Food expenditure | Awaiting research |
| Cost of a common basket | Awaiting research |
| Cost of specific meals | Awaiting research |
| Grocery shopping locations | Awaiting research |
| Shopping frequency | Awaiting research |
| Prepared food and delivery | Awaiting research |
| Household food waste | Awaiting research |
Seasons and celebrations
0/2
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Seasonal produce | Awaiting research |
| Celebration food | Awaiting research |
Coverage in progress
The editorial guide for this country is in preparation. You can already explore its recipes; regional attributions are added when documented.
Guide available in other languages: Español
One country, many cuisines
An initial selection of regions to explore. Culinary boundaries may differ from administrative divisions.
Recipes connected with China
Each recipe documents one version. Geographic associations do not imply an exclusive origin.
Kung pao chicken
Sichuan-style stir-fried chicken with dried chili, Sichuan pepper, peanuts, and a savory, tangy, lightly sweet sauce. Serves 4; timings are approximate.
View recipeChinese-Style Tomato and Scrambled Eggs
Soft eggs cooked with juicy tomato, garlic, and a touch of sugar. Makes 2 servings; times are approximate.
View recipeBlack Sesame Tangyuan
Eight glutinous rice dumplings filled with black sesame, butter, and sugar. Preparation, cooking, and cooling times are estimates.
View recipeChar siu pork
Cantonese pork marinated with soy sauce, hoisin and spices, slowly roasted and finished with a honey glaze.
View recipeMooncakes with Apricot and Dates
Chinese baked pastries with a tender dough and a sweet filling of apricot jam, dates, coconut, and raisins. The recipe makes approximately 15–20 pieces; serving and preparation-time estimates are approximate.
View recipeChinese scallion pancakes (cong you bing)
Four savory, unleavened pancakes layered with scallions and browned in a pan.
View recipeSichuan dan dan noodles
Wheat noodles with browned pork, sui mi ya cai, and a sauce of sesame, soy, chili oil, and Sichuan pepper.
View recipeBasic Chinese Congee
Chinese white-rice porridge slowly cooked with water, ginger, and scallion, served for breakfast.
View recipe
Sources consulted
Read the sources and each document’s scope. A heritage inscription concerns a particular practice, not all of a country’s cuisine.
- Shunde, ciudad creativa de gastronomía www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/shunde UNESCO
- Yangzhou: informe de la red de ciudades creativas www.unesco.org/sites/default/files/medias/fichiers/2025/04/Yangzhou_Monitoring_Report_2024.p… UNESCO / City of Yangzhou
- Chengdu, ciudad creativa de gastronomía www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/chengdu UNESCO