Guizhou and Yunnan Cuisine
I would be really amiss if I didn’t talk about the food on this journey to southern China. I can’t stop thinking about how fresh and full of flavour the meals were. This is a sample of some of the most incredible places we ate at during the tour!
Guizhou - Our first stop on arriving at Duyun [1] - a wonderful place that served very fresh salmon and sturgeon. I don’t think I’ve ever had better chili sauce in my life! The flavours were incredible.
After we arrived in Jiaoyao Village [2] - our host (Cho Cho) prepared an amazing hot pot for us. I can say that I’ve never had better chili sauce anywhere. I think the food in Guizhou was the most closely aligned to my palate. The meals were incredible there. Cho Cho also shared some lovely ginseng wine with me!
In Meitan [3] (pictured below) we also stopped for lunch and had another incredible meal. I didn’t take enough pictures, but again, each place has their own take on chili sauce. The mixes were all different. Always served with as many greens as you wish!
Yunnan - We had dinner and stayed one night in Kunming [4] to rest before heading to Pu’er. We had a marvelous meal at Qiaoxiangyuan with exotic ingredients which you add to noodles and broth - incredible! For dessert we each indulged in a traditional flower cake from this bakery (below, right) across the street from our hotel! [5]
The next day we parted for Pu’er City….more wonderful food and camaraderie to come! Pictured below is one of the meals we had at ChaMa city [6] - which had this lovely view of a pond.
We stayed in Menghai for three nights - and shared meals with a tea producer (Wei Feng) who also became our driver and guide for a few days.[7]
We all enjoyed our time in Menghai
Completely satisfied after another amazing meal!
I would go back to China just for the food! The south in particular with their immense variety of savoury and spicy dishes, totally aligned with my palate. I should also say that the service was always good, everything was fresh and the people were so friendly. I don’t think I will ever forget this trip!❤️🍜
I would recommend that people traveling to China have an open-mind about the food and try everything. You won’t regret it!
[1] See more about Duyun - Experiencing Guizhou 1
[2] Guizhou III - Jiaoyao Village
[3] Guizhou IV - Meitan and Fenggang
[5] I don’t usually eat many sweets, but flower cakes are a specialty of Yunnan. They aren’t overly sweet like North American desserts either. I had one that was matcha and rose petals! (It was my birthday!)
