On our first morning in China our guide, Ping, took us to a local market in Yangshuo for a breakfast of steamed buns and warm soy milk. This set a precedent for the rest of the trip for a handful of us, and in each new city, the first task was always to scope out the best steamed bun spots and try different fillings from meat to sweet sesame or noodles and vegetables. Trying different cuisines is one of my favourite things about travelling.
China is the perfect country for enjoying family-style meals, and I was lucky to be part of a group who were happy to share a variety of dishes recommended by our guides. We’d frequently be sat around a table, helping ourselves to the numerous dishes rotating on the ‘Lazy Susan’. It’s impossible to pick a favourite, but some highlights include the rice noodles in Yangshuo and Xi’an, the Sichuan Hot Pot in Chengdu (not as spicey as we feared!), and the variety of vegetables across the country, especially the fried aubergine. Oh, and the dumplings!