Hello everyone, I’m Emma Lee, an expatriate food blogger who has fallen in love with the culinary delights of China. Since arriving in China, I’ve been captivated by the vibrant street food and upscale restaurants alike. In my food blog, I delight in sharing thrilling culinary adventures, from hidden street stalls in bustling alleys to sophisticated dining in urban settings. Each spot has its own unique story and flavors. Today, I invite you to delve into the culinary world of Lijiang, China, as I share some must-try traditional dishes from this beautiful city.

Summary

Must-Try Traditional Lijiang Cuisine

Stinky Tofu

Stinky Tofu
  • Introduction: Stinky Tofu is a culinary icon in Lijiang, known for its golden, crispy exterior and silky-smooth interior. This unique culinary art transforms the tofu through frying, creating a crunchy shell that shatters easily, revealing a warm, creamy center. Complemented by a special sauce, each bite tantalizes the taste buds to their fullest.
  • Chinese Name: 包浆豆腐
  • Pinyin: Bao Jiang Dou Fu
  • Main Ingredients: Tofu, salt
  • Typical Eating Time: Snack
  • Recommended Eating Season: All year round
  • Stinky Tofu (Dayan Shop)
    • Address: 42 Xinyuan Alley, Guangyi Street, Old Town District, Lijiang (Apple Maps/Amap)
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
    • Average Price: 10 RMB

Dongba Grilled Fish

Dongba Grilled Fish
  • Introduction: Dongba Grilled Fish, also known as Naxi Grilled Fish, is a must-try delicacy in Lijiang. Fresh fish caught from the region’s clear streams are used, offering tender, flavorful meat with no trace of muddy taste. The Naxi people expertly grill the fish to a perfect crisp on the outside while keeping the flesh juicy and tender on the inside. Seasoned with unique spices, every bite is a delicious temptation for your taste buds.
  • Chinese Name: 东巴烤鱼
  • Pinyin: Dong Ba Kao Yu
  • Main Ingredients: Fish, fermented black beans
  • Typical Meal Times: Lunch and dinner
  • Recommended Season: All year round
  • Dianchu Restaurant – Xiaoguoba Naxi Cuisine
    • Address: 9 Zhenxing Alley, Wuyi Street, Old Town District, Lijiang (Apple Maps/Amap)
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM
    • Average Price: 66 RMB

Chicken Bean Jelly

Chicken Bean Jelly
  • Introduction: Chicken Bean Jelly is a colorful and popular street snack in Lijiang. Made from the unique chicken beans grown on the highlands of Lijiang, this jelly is smooth and refreshing. The dish is served with a variety of seasonings, including spicy Sichuan pepper oil, fresh cilantro, scallions, and pungent garlic paste, creating a symphony of flavors in your mouth.
  • Chinese Name: 鸡豆凉粉
  • Pinyin: Ji Dou Liang Fen
  • Main Ingredients: Chicken beans
  • Typical Meal Times: Snack
  • Recommended Season: All year round
  • No. 88 Snack Bar
    • Address: 88 Xingren Upper Section, Wuyi Street, Dayan Residential District, Lijiang (Apple Maps/Amap)
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
    • Average Price: 47 RMB

Grilled Bait Block

Grilled Bait Block
  • Introduction: Grilled Bait Block is not just a food, but a lifestyle. The outer crust is perfectly golden and crisp, while the inside remains soft, sweet, and chewy. Biting into it offers a comforting taste of flour and yeast, with a subtle sweetness. Often paired with hot soy milk or local yogurt, it’s the perfect way to start your day in Lijiang.
  • Chinese Name: 烤饵块
  • Pinyin: Kao Er Kuai
  • Main Ingredients: Bait block or rice cake, glutinous rice
  • Typical Meal Times: Snack
  • Recommended Season: All year round
  • Neihan Erkuai
    • Address: 63 Xinyuan Alley, Guangyi Street, Old Town District, Lijiang (Apple Maps/Amap)
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:30 AM – 11:30 PM
    • Average Price: 17 RMB

Smoked Pork Ribs Hotpot

Smoked Pork Ribs Hotpot
  • Introduction: Smoked Pork Ribs Hotpot features high-quality local pork ribs that are marinated and air-dried for an extended period, which gives the meat a firm, chewy texture. The broth is made by simmering a variety of aromatic spices, resulting in a rich, flavorful base that enhances the smoky flavor of the pork. A truly comforting dish, perfect for any season.
  • Chinese Name: 腊排骨火锅
  • Pinyin: La Pai Gu Huo Guo
  • Main Ingredients: Smoked pork ribs, glass noodles
  • Typical Meal Times: Lunch and dinner
  • Recommended Season: All year round
  • Jiuhe Corn Restaurant – Branch 2
    • Address: 36 Jinxing Street, Old Town District, Lijiang (Apple Maps/Amap)
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 09:00 AM – 11:00 PM
    • Average Price: 75 RMB

Flower Cake

Flower Cake
  • Introduction: Lijiang’s Flower Cake is the perfect combination of floral aroma and sweetness. Fresh seasonal flowers like roses, osmanthus, and chrysanthemums are carefully selected and mixed with sugar and flour. The dough is then kneaded, rolled, shaped, and baked, resulting in golden, fragrant cakes that are irresistible to the taste buds.
  • Chinese Name: 鲜花饼
  • Pinyin: Xian Hua Bing
  • Main Ingredients: Flour, rose, osmanthus, chrysanthemum
  • Typical Meal Times: Snack
  • Recommended Season: All year round
  • Supermarkets and Gift Shops (Many places sell pre-made flower cakes)
    • Average Price: 5 RMB

Crossing the Bridge Rice Noodles

Crossing the Bridge Rice Noodles
  • Introduction: Crossing the Bridge Rice Noodles is a Lijiang specialty. The rice noodles are made from high-quality rice, giving them a smooth and delicate texture. Served with a clear, flavorful meat broth, and topped with fresh slices of meat and vegetables, this dish is a delightful explosion of flavor in every bite.
  • Chinese Name: 过桥米线
  • Pinyin: Guo Qiao Mi Xian
  • Main Ingredients: Bone broth, rice noodles
  • Typical Meal Times: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Recommended Season: All year round
  • Jiuge Rice Noodles
    • Address: 65-2 Wangjiazhuang Alley, Wuyi Street Residents’ Committee, Dayan Sub-district Office, Old Town District, Lijiang (Apple Maps/Amap)
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 08:30 AM – 01:30 AM
    • Average Price: 53 RMB

Dried Yak Meat

Dried Yak Meat
  • Introduction: On the high mountains of Lijiang, lives a magical creature—the yak. Feeding on the natural grasses of the plateau, yak meat is tender, flavorful, and rich in nutrients. Dried Yak Meat is made by marinating and roasting this precious ingredient. The meat becomes tender with a rich, savory flavor, offering an irresistible burst of taste in every bite.
  • Chinese Name: 牦牛肉干巴
  • Pinyin: Mao Niu Rou Gan Ba
  • Main Ingredients: Yak meat
  • Typical Meal Times: Snack
  • Recommended Season: All year round
  • Panxiangji Flower Cake (Sifang Temple Fair Shop)
    • Address: 88-2 Changshui Road, Old Town District, Lijiang (Apple Maps/Amap)
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 09:00 AM – 11:00 PM
    • Average Price: 22 RMB

Steamed Rice Cake

Steamed Rice Cake
  • Introduction: Steamed Rice Cake is a beloved traditional snack in Lijiang. Made with locally sourced glutinous rice, the cake undergoes fermentation and steaming, which results in a delicate fragrance from the rice and yeast. The filling varies with the seasons, sometimes filled with sweet red bean paste or refreshing green bean paste. Every bite offers a gentle, comforting experience for your taste buds.
  • Chinese Name: 蒸米糕
  • Pinyin: Zheng Mi Gao
  • Main Ingredients: Glutinous rice flour, sticky rice flour
  • Typical Meal Times: Snack
  • Recommended Season: All year round

Fried Potatoes

Fried Potatoes
  • Introduction: Fried Potatoes, a popular Yunnan snack, involves cutting potatoes (or “yangyu”) into chunks or strips and deep-frying them to varying levels of crispness, from tender to extra crispy. These golden fries are then mixed with a variety of seasonings, including fermented tofu, pickled radishes, cilantro, wild ginger, green onions, and a special local chili powder, creating a spicy and savory treat that is both aromatic and delicious.
  • Chinese Name: 炸洋芋
  • Pinyin: Zha Yang Yu
  • Main Ingredients: Potatoes
  • Typical Meal Times: Snack
  • Recommended Season: All year round
  • Luxi Grilled Potatoes
    • Address: 116 Luzhong, Fuxing Road, Xi’an Residential District, Old Town District, Lijiang (Apple Maps/Amap)
    • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 08:00 AM – 08:30 PM
    • Average Price: 27 RMB