Vegan Travel in China: A Complete Guide (2025)

China isn't known for vegan-friendly cuisine. Meat appears everywhere, and the concept of strict veganism is unfamiliar to most Chinese people. But with preparation and flexibility, vegan travel in China is absolutely possible.

This guide covers where to eat, what to order, and how to communicate your dietary needs.

The Reality Check

Challenges

• "Vegetarian" often means "no visible meat chunks"
• Animal products hide in unexpected places
• Concept of veganism not widely understood
• Lard used in many dishes
• Chicken/pork stock in most soups
• Oyster sauce in vegetable dishes
• Egg in many items

Good News

• Buddhist vegetarian tradition exists
• Tofu and vegetable dishes are common
• Fresh produce is excellent
• Major cities have vegan restaurants
• Apps help find options
• It's getting easier every year

Buddhist Vegetarian Restaurants (素食餐厅)

Your best option. Buddhist restaurants serve fully plant-based food.

How to Find Them

Look for:

• 素食 (sùshí) — vegetarian food
• 素菜 (sùcài) — vegetarian dishes
• 斋菜 (zhāicài) — Buddhist vegetarian
• 纯素 (chúnsù) — pure vegan

Near temples: Buddhist restaurants often cluster near temples and monasteries.

Apps:

• Dianping (大众点评): Search "素食"
• Happy Cow: Works in major cities
• Google Maps (with VPN): Search "vegan" or "vegetarian"

What to Expect

Buddhist vegetarian restaurants offer:

• Fully plant-based menus
• Often creative mock meats
• No garlic or onion (strict Buddhist)
• Peaceful atmosphere
• Reasonable prices
• Staff who understand veganism

Note: Strict Buddhist cuisine avoids the "five pungent vegetables" (garlic, onion, leeks, chives, shallots). If you're fine with these, just confirm they use no animal products.

Vegan-Friendly Dishes

Generally Safe Options

Dish	Chinese	Notes
Stir-fried vegetables	炒青菜	Ask: no oyster sauce, no lard
Mapo tofu (vegan version)	素麻婆豆腐	Specify no meat
Dry-fried green beans	干煸四季豆	Often has pork—ask without
Cucumber salad	拍黄瓜	Usually vegan
Steamed rice	米饭	Always vegan
Congee (plain)	白粥	Check for chicken stock
Steamed buns (veggie)	素包子	Specify vegetable filling
Noodles	面条	Ask about broth and toppings

Usually NOT Vegan

Even if they look vegetarian:

• Fried rice (usually has egg, often lard)
• Vegetable dumplings (often have pork fat in wrapper)
• Soup noodles (chicken/pork broth)
• Stir-fried veggies (oyster sauce common)
• Tofu dishes (often cooked with meat)

Always ask. Don't assume.

How to Communicate

Essential Phrases

Core phrase:

• 我吃纯素 (Wǒ chī chúnsù) — I eat pure vegan

Explaining what you don't eat:

• 我不吃肉 (Wǒ bù chī ròu) — I don't eat meat
• 我不吃鸡蛋 (Wǒ bù chī jīdàn) — I don't eat eggs
• 我不吃奶制品 (Wǒ bù chī nǎizhìpǐn) — I don't eat dairy
• 我不吃海鲜 (Wǒ bù chī hǎixiān) — I don't eat seafood

Checking dishes:

• 这个有肉吗？(Zhège yǒu ròu ma?) — Does this have meat?
• 有鸡蛋吗？(Yǒu jīdàn ma?) — Does it have egg?
• 用猪油炒吗？(Yòng zhūyóu chǎo ma?) — Is it cooked in lard?
• 有蚝油吗？(Yǒu háoyóu ma?) — Does it have oyster sauce?

Vegan Card

Create a card (or save on phone) that says:

Chinese:

我是纯素食者。
我不吃：
- 任何肉类（猪、牛、鸡、鱼、海鲜）
- 鸡蛋
- 奶制品
- 蜂蜜
- 动物油脂（猪油、黄油）
- 蚝油、鱼露

请问有什么素菜可以吃？谢谢！

Translation:

I am a strict vegan.
I don't eat:
- Any meat (pork, beef, chicken, fish, seafood)
- Eggs
- Dairy products
- Honey
- Animal fats (lard, butter)
- Oyster sauce, fish sauce

What vegetarian dishes can I eat? Thank you!

Show this to servers. It helps enormously.

City-by-City Guide

Beijing

• Growing vegan scene
• Multiple dedicated vegan restaurants
• Temple restaurants near Lama Temple
• International options available
• Apps: Search "素食" on Dianping

Shanghai

• Best city for vegans in China
• International vegan restaurants
• Health food stores
• Western-style vegan cafes
• Apps work well here

Chengdu

• Sichuan food is spicy and delicious
• But heavily meat-focused
• Buddhist restaurants exist
• Ask for "素的" versions of dishes
• Mapo tofu can be vegan

Guangzhou

• Cantonese cuisine uses lots of meat
• Dim sum difficult (most have meat/seafood)
• Buddhist restaurants near temples
• Vegetable dishes available

Smaller Cities

• More challenging
• Buddhist restaurants near temples
• Stick to simple vegetable dishes
• Rice and basic stir-fries
• Fruit as backup

Grocery Shopping

What You Can Find

• Fresh fruits and vegetables (excellent)
• Tofu (many varieties)
• Rice, noodles
• Nuts and seeds
• Soy milk
• Some plant-based milks (in big cities)

Where to Shop

• Local markets (produce)
• Supermarkets (packaged goods)
• Convenience stores (snacks, soy milk)
• Imported food stores (Western vegan products)

Watch Out For

• Snacks often contain milk powder
• "Vegetarian" products may have egg
• Read labels carefully (or use translation app)

Fast Food Options

Chain Restaurants

KFC/McDonald's:

• Fries (check if fried in vegetable oil)
• Salads (without chicken)
• Corn
• Very limited options

Starbucks:

• Plant milks available (oat, soy)
• Some food items
• Safe coffee drinks

Pizza Hut:

• Salads
• Cheese-free pizza possible (ask)

Better Options

• Buddhist restaurants
• Hot pot (cook your own vegetables)
• Noodle shops (plain noodles, vegetables)
• Local fruit shops

Hot Pot Strategy

Hot pot can work for vegans:

Choose:

• Vegetable broth (素汤底/菌汤底)
• Mushroom broth
• Tomato broth (番茄锅)

Avoid:

• Meat-based broths (most default options)
• Shared pots with meat broth

Order:

• Tofu varieties
• Mushrooms
• Leafy greens
• Noodles
• Vegetables

Ask: Is the broth made with meat stock?

Snacks and Convenience Food

Usually Vegan

• Fresh fruit
• Nuts (check for flavoring)
• Plain rice crackers
• Some chips (check ingredients)
• Dried fruit

Often Has Hidden Animal Products

• Cookies (butter, eggs, milk)
• Bread (milk, eggs common)
• Instant noodles (meat flavoring packets)
• Flavored snacks

Survival Tips

Preparation

1. Download apps: Dianping, Happy Cow
2. Save vegan card on phone
3. Learn key phrases
4. Research restaurants in advance for each city
5. Pack snacks from home

Daily Strategies

1. Eat breakfast at hotel (fruit, congee, bread)
2. Find Buddhist restaurant for lunch
3. Cook hot pot for dinner (control ingredients)
4. Carry backup snacks always
5. Fruit shops are everywhere

When Desperate

• Plain rice + vegetables
• Fresh fruit
• Convenience store soy milk
• Nuts from shops
• Simple steamed vegetables

Accept Imperfection

Cross-contamination happens. Mistakes happen. Sauces may contain hidden ingredients. Do your best, communicate clearly, but accept that 100% vegan purity is difficult in China.

Common Questions

Can I find vegan food everywhere in China?

Major cities: yes. Small towns: challenging. Always have backup snacks.

Is tofu always vegan?

No. Many tofu dishes are cooked with meat or meat broth. Always ask.

What about street food?

Risky. Most is cooked in animal fat or contains meat products. Stick to fruit.

Will restaurants understand "vegan"?

Not usually. "I don't eat meat, eggs, or dairy" is better understood than "vegan."

Is soy sauce vegan?

Chinese soy sauce is typically vegan (unlike some Japanese versions with fish).

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Need dietary communication help? The China Survival Kit includes allergy and dietary cards, restaurant guides, and translation tools for special diets.