Are you still vegetarian in China ?

Comment

Comment by Shuby on November 29, 2012 at 6:11pm

Thank you so much. It's a good posting. Truly appreciated. Keep posting more.

Comment by Shivi Sabharwal on November 29, 2012 at 5:27pm

Vegetarian Restaurants

Here are some vegetarian restaurants throughout China. If you know of any more, please let me know!

Beijing / 北京

Baihe Vegetarian (Summer Palace Location) / 百合素餐厅(颐和园店)

Open 11AM-10PM. No egg, alcohol or onions. Seats 70 people, with 5 private rooms. Accepts international credit cards.
50 Kunming Hu Lu, Haidian District (map)
北京市海淀区昆明湖路50号 (běijīngshì hǎidiànqū kūnmínghú lù 50 hào)
(75m southeast of the Summer Palace Xingongmen Gate / 颐和园新宫门东南50米)
Buses: 374,374支,704,905,992 to Summer Palace southern Gate (颐和园南门)
+86 10 62878726
+86 10 64052081
www.vbaihe.com

Baihe Vegetarian (Dongcheng Caoyuan Hutong Location) / 百合素食香草园店

Renovated courtyard-style house in a traditional hutong neighbourhood. Includes both indoor and outdoor seating. Open 10:30AM-10:30PM. Accepts international credit cards.

Caoyuan Hutong No. Jia 23, Bei Xiaojie, Dongzhimen Nei, Dongcheng District (map)
东城区北小街草园胡同23号
+86 10 64052082
+86 10 64052084

Bodhi-Sake / 菩提缘素食斋

Just north of Taoranting park in an old temple courtyard complex. No smoking. Open daily 11AM-10PM.
10-16 Heiyaochang Jie, Xuanwu District (map)
宣武区黑窑厂街10号
+86 10 63542889
+86 10 63546155
+86 10 63557348
www.3puti.com

Elaine's

Featuring a courtyard and a rooftop deck overlooking the lake.
Luo Ma Hu, Shunyi
+86 10 80485088

Love Vegetarian Restaurant / 北京素势代祥茹蔬食餐厅

50m north of the east side of the Pan Jiayuan Bridge, Chaoyang District (map)
朝阳区 潘家园桥东50米路北
+86 10 67312168
blog.sina.com.cn/ssdaxssct

Don't miss...

• International Vegetarian Club of Beijing (IVCB)
  A member of the International Vegetarian Union (IVU), the club is a non-profit organisation that promotes the vegetarian way of living by organising events in Beijing.
• Vegan Social Club of Beijing
  Vegan social dinners every Thursday and Friday!
• Beijing Vegetarian Culture Blog
  A Chinese language blog about being veggie in Beijing.

Cat's Cradle

Smallish restaurant with English-speaking staff, good service but basic decor. No alcohol or smoking. Open daily 11am-9pm.
66 Meishuguanhoujie, Dongcheng District (map)
东城区美术馆后街66号
dōngchéngqū měishùguǎn hòu jiē liùshí liùhào
+86 133 6622 1228

Enlightened Love of Vegetables / 彼岸爱之素

33 Xueyuan Nan Lu, Haidian District (Beside Yihai Business Hotel) (map)
海淀区学院南路33号 (艺海商务酒店旁)
hǎidiànqū xuéyuàn nán lù sānshí sānhào (yì hǎi shāngwù jiǔdiàn páng)
Buses: 16, 849, 601, 645, 651 to 皂君庙东站/明光村西站/金五星总站/艺海总站 (zào jūn miào dōngzhàn/míng guāng cūn xīzhàn/jīn wǔxīng zǒngzhàn/yì hǎi zǒngzhàn)
+86 10 62116389
+86 10 86356269
无蛋无奶
aizhisu@126.com

Bowei Tang / 博味堂

9-14, Area 1, Anhuili, Chaoyang District (Near Jiali Building) (map)
朝阳区安慧里1区14-9号 (近加利大厦)
cháoyángqū An1 Huì lǐ yī qū shí sì-jiǔ hào (jìn jiālì dàshà)
+86 10 64927559

Sea of Mercy / 慈海素心

Reasonable prices and good food in a comfortable setting, but with unremarkable service. Open 10AM-11PM.
103 Di'anmen Xi Da Jie, Xicheng District (Inside rear of Jilu Fandian) (map)
西城区地安门西大街103号，齐鲁饭店后院内
Bus: 111,107,118,810,850,204,13 to Dongguan Fang Zhan (东官房站)
+86 10 66571898
+86 1330 1259 664

Caomujian / 草木间

2nd Floor, Huateng Building, 302 Jinsong Area #3, Chaoyang District (map)
朝阳区劲松三区甲302号华腾大厦二层
cháoyángqū jìn sōng sān qū jiǎ sānbǎi èrhào huá téng dàshà èrcéng
Subway: Jinsong Station (劲松站)
+86 10 87730135
+86 10 87730136

Temple of Enlightenment Vegetarian / 大觉寺素食

Inside the Temple of Enlightenment (map)
北京西部旸台山(在颐和园乘346路汽车，到北安河南口下车，大觉寺内)
Bus: Take 346 from the Summer Palace (颐和园) to Bei'an He Nankou (北安河南口)

Deng Pin Vegetarian / 登品素食

Features 10 private rooms and capacity for 150 simultaneous diners. Egg used.
26 Guozijian Jie Jia, Dongcheng District (Opposite the Confucian Temple, 80m from Yonghegong) (map)
东城区国子监大街甲26号 (孔庙对面，距离雍和宫80米)
dōngchéngqū guó zǐ jiān dàjiē jiǎ èrshí liùhào (kǒng miào duìmiàn, jùlí yōng hé gōng bāshí mǐ)
+86 10 64046568

Gongdelin Vegetarian Restaurant / 功德林素饭庄

Open from 6:30AM to 8PM. Seating for 300. 4 private rooms. Egg used. Alcohol served. No onion.
158 Qianmen Nan Da Jie ()
前门南大街158号
qián ménnándàjiē yībǎi wǔshí bāhào
Bus: 110,120,20,15,59,17,54 to Zhushikou (珠市口)
+86 10 67020867
+86 10 65112542

Lily Pond Moonlight / 荷塘月色

Open since 2000, with seating for 200. No egg, onion or alcohol is served. Electronic payment by China Unipay card and international credit cards are accepted. Rumoured to be a bit pricey, and too heavy on fake meat dishes.
Building 12, Liu Fang Nan Li, Chaoyang District (map)
朝阳区柳芳南里12号楼
Bus: 104 to Liu Fang Dong Kou (柳芳东口) or 18 to Zuo Jia Zhuang (左家庄)
+86 10 64653299
+86 10 64663114
www.hetangyuese.com.cn
www.brightsea.net

Lily Pond Moonlight (Zhongguan Village Location) / 荷塘月色(中关村店)

No egg or onion. Alcohol is served.
3rd Floor, #3 Cultural Center, 66 Number Four Ring Road (East of Haidian Bridge), Haidian District (map)
海淀区北四环西路66号 第三极文化中心3层
hǎidiànqū běi sì huán xīlù liùshí liùhào dì sān jí wénhuà zhōngxīn sāncéng
+86 10 62680848
+86 10 62681318
www.hetangyuese.com.cn

He She Vegetarian / 荷舍素食

东城区东单路口北(王府半岛饭店东)
+86 10 65239747

Jiaheyuan Vegetarian / 嘉禾园素食

德胜门西大街甲5号(积水潭桥西360米路北地铁集团院内)
+86 10 62261846

Homestyle Vegetarian / 家乡素食

朝阳公园路6号SOLANA蓝色港湾商业区SMM98号
+86 10 59056301
+86 10 59056306
注意：这是家乡连锁餐饮的唯一一家素食店

Jiangnan Garden Meishijie / 江南花园美食街

Over 1500 meters squared. Seats 450 people. Divided in to self-service buffet, and fast food sections. Private rooms available.
Opposite Beijing Station (to the North-east) (map)
北京站前马路斜对面(东北方位)
běijīngzhàn qián mǎlù xié duìmiàn (dōngběifāng wèi)
Subway or bus: Beijing Station (北京站 / běijīngzhàn)
+86 10 65596136
+86 10 65598001

Jingfun Cafe / 净饭咖啡

Western food. Ground Floor, Bishuiyuntian Building, Wanliu Zhong Lu, Haidian District (map)
海淀区万柳中路碧水云天底商1号楼
+86 10 82567293
+86 10 82565205

Still Thoughts Vegetarian (Da Fo Temple Location) / 静思素食坊 (大佛寺分店 )

Large menu, popular and cheap. Open 10AM-10PM. Non smoking area.
北大佛寺东街甲18号育群胡同口
+86 1064008941

Still Thoughts Vegetarian (Meiyuan Hotel Location) / 静思素食坊 (梅苑饭店分店)

Large menu, popular and cheap. Open 10AM-10PM.
北京市梅苑饭店高粱桥斜街甲30号
大学南门梅园饭店1-2层
+86 10 62255792

Tranquil Lotus (Pure Lotus) / 净心莲

Set in Chaoyang park, this restaurant serves no egg, alcohol or onion. Acclaimed decor and bilingual staff with excellent English. Seating for 60, plus one private room. International credit cards are accepted. Pricing is reasonable.
农展南里10号中国文联院内(东三环长虹桥东北角350/707/特3路)
+86 10 87036669
+86 10 65923627

Tranquil Lotus (Holiday Inn Lidu) / 净心莲 (丽都假日饭店分店)

Fairly exclusive vegetarian restaurant set in the Holiday Inn. No egg, alcohol or onion. Receives good reviews, but pricey!
3rd Floor, Holiday Inn Lidu, 6 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District (map)
朝阳区将台路6号丽都假日饭店3层
+86 10 87036668
+86 10 64376288

Tranquility Vegetarian / 净心素食居

Opened 2005. 150 seats, 5 private rooms.
丰台区方庄芳古园一区28号蒲方路物美大卖场东(37、39路芳古园站)
+86 10 67623159

Sea of Lotus Vegetarian / 莲花海素食

Open 10AM-10PM. No egg, alcohol, or onion.
Opposite Hebei Fandian, Cheniandian Hutong, Andingmen Nei Da Jie (map)
安定门内大街车辇店胡同 (河北饭店对面) Bus: 104，108 to Andingmen Nei (安定门内)
+86 10 64036169

Liuhe Vegetarian / 六和斋

Southeast Corner of Xisanqi Bridge, Haidian District
海淀区西三旗立交桥东南角
+86 10 86490060
+86 10 86394733

Ma Niang Niang Fan Zhuang / 马娘酿饭庄

Not exclusively vegetarian, but vegetarian food is prepared in a seperate kitchen.
Section 2, Badachu Park, Shijingshan District (map)
石景山区八大处公园二处
+86 10 88964661
+86 10 88962017

Miaoshan Vegetarian / 妙膳素食

Opened April 2005.
76 Gulouxidajie, Xicheng District (map)
北京西城区鼓楼西大街76号
Subway: Guloudajie (鼓楼大街) exit B, turn right and keep walking. Turn right at Guluoxidajie (鼓楼西大街), then keep walking for 15-20 minutes.
Bus: 5,815,819,834 to Ganshui Qiao (甘水桥)
+86 10 84045899

Banruo Vegetarian / 般若素食

No smoking, alcohol, meat, eggs or onion.
33 Guloudongjie, Changping District (map)
昌平区鼓楼东街33号
Bus: 21 to Changping #2 Middle School (昌平二中), then walk north for five minutes.
+86 10 69700208
+86 10 86694425

Pu Ti Yuan / 菩提缘

Open 10:30AM-10:30PM. No egg or onion.
10-16 Heiyaochang Jie, Xuanwu District (200m east of Taoranting Park's north gate) (map)
宣武区黑窑场街10号-16号 (陶然亭公园北门正对进来200米路东)
Bus: 40,59,613 to Taoranting Gongyuan (陶然亭公园)
+86 10 63546155
+86 10 63557348
+86 10 63542889

Bodhisattva Garden Vegetarian / 菩园斋

Open 10:30AM-10:30PM.
East Wall of Lianhe University, 93 North Number Four Ring Road (map)
北四环东路93号计生委，惠新东桥联合大学东侧
Bus: 840,740,753,944,939 to Shaoyao Ju (芍药居)
+86 10 84643248
+86 10 84643246

Seven Treasures Pool Vegetarian Garden / 七宝池蔬食花园

No egg, onion or smoking.
101 Yuanyang World, Building 67, 1 Ba Li Zhuang Xi Li (map)
八里庄西里1号远洋天地67号楼101
+86 10 85860026

Total Vegetarian / 全素斋

Serves vegetarian meat dishes, some include meat flavours (ask for pure!).
213 Wangfujing Da Jie, Dongcheng District (map)
东城区王府井大街213号
Bus: 104
+86 10 65250741

Sushang Healthy Vegetarian / 素尚健康素食

No egg or onion.
Da Tun Bei Zhan, Beifan Lu, Chaoyang Distrct (50m North of the Sinopec Gas Station) (map)
朝阳区北苑路大屯北站“家和物美大卖场”南200米路东(中石化北苑路加油站北50米)
+86 10 52020978

Vegetarian Place / 素食居

28, Section 1, Fangzhuangfang Guyuan, Fengtai District (East of Wumei Shopping Center) (map)
丰台区方庄芳古园一区28号(物美大卖场东)
+86 10 67623159

Veggie Love Kitchen / 素势代爱心厨房

Opened 2008. No egg or alcohol.
24 Baiguang Lu Jia (map)
宣武区白广路甲24号南
+86 10 63513517

Vegetarian Dining Hall / 素势代祥茹蔬食餐厅

Opened 2006. No egg or alcohol.
Building 5, Jinli Dasha, Song Yu Bei Lu, Chaoyang District (map)
朝阳区松榆北路5号楼金利大厦
+86 10 67312168

Comment by Shivi Sabharwal on November 29, 2012 at 5:27pm

Introduction

Vegetarians and vegans planning trips to China often have questions about how to find acceptable cuisine.

This page aims to answer your questions by familiarising you with the historical, cultural and practical implications of being vegetarian in this fascinating part of the world.

Although this site is based upon my own experience as a vegetarian, information for vegans is also provided.

First of all, don't be discouraged from travel. It is possible to travel widely in China and find vegetarian or vegan food. It just takes some effort and a bit of flexibility.

Most foreign vegetarians arrive in greater China with no local language skills, which was exactly the case for me.

I'll present some basic Chinese phrases for you that allow you to explain your dietary preference, and also give you a list of common dishes as a 'safe menu'.

The Chinese characters on this page are in simplified Chinese, the pronunciation is Mandarin (standard Chinese) and the romanization given here is pinyin.

How to say you're vegetarian

Unfortunately there is no simple way to say you're vegetarian that will be understood clearly in all situations.

But don't panic! ... there's some easy to remember phrases that come close.

The standard strategy is to get the gist of the message across with the Chinese phrase wo chi su (literally "I eat vegetables"), or one of its slightly more complex variant.

This phrase, combined with being vigilant against contaminants (little pieces of meat, meat-based soup stocks, sprinklings of dry shrimps, etc.) is a practical and easily achievable solution to the core problem of getting fed.

Indeed, they are three powerful characters - whether you print them out and point at them, or try to learn the pronunciation and repeat it yourself, you'll be dashing in to random restaurants and discovering new vegetarian delicacies in no time!

Of course, repeating this phrase has its limitations and there are is a more elevated phrases that you might also want to learn about.

Bonus Phrase for Budding Linguists

English	Chinese	Pinyin	Notes
I'm vegetarian		wo chi zhai	This variant is a more religious-oriented way to say that you are vegetarian. It is less likely to be understood and may cause confusion.

While it may not be so useful in the mainland since almost nobody will understand, in Hong Kong and Taiwan you might be able to explain the concept of a 'vegan' (纯素食者 chun su shi zhe).

How to say you don't eat something

Since vegans and many vegetarians have particular (dis)affinities for foods, it helps to know how to say that you don't eat something.

The phrase for this is wo bu chi... followed by the food in question.

For instance, wo bu chi ji dan means "I don't eat (chicken) eggs."

Two other useful foods to remember with this phrase are yu (fish) and hai xian (seafood).

Vegetarianism in Chinese history

China was a major center of Buddhism and the founding state of Taoism, two nature-oriented philosophies that promote vegetarianism and low-impact living.

However, the situation in modern China is quite different.

In recent history many Chinese people were too poor to afford meat, and today they have grown up and/or had children of their own.

Back with a vengeance, they are almost literally munching on any little critter they can get their hands on.

This explains the lack of overt vegetarianism and the quizzical looks you may garner when you finally get your message across.

Methods of preparation

The following are the most common phrases used to describe methods of food preparation.

Chinese	Pinyin	English	Notes
炒	chao	Stir-fry	The most common method.
炸	zha	Fry	A 'seared' fry - crispy on the outside.
煮	zhu	Boil	Describes soups, dumplings, etc.
干煸	gan bian	Dry fried (seared)	For fried cakes, seared beans, etc.
蒸	zheng	Steamed	Like 'baozi' breakfast buns.

List of Chinese vegetarian dishes

Here is a list of common Chinese vegetarian dishes and/or street food, including names in Chinese and English, ingredients and vegetarian/vegan status.

English Name & Image	Chinese	Pinyin	Vegan	Description/Comments
Breads and Pastries	饼	bing	Some	Chinese Pinyin Description 窝头 窝窝头 wo tou wo wo tou North-eastern steamed corn bread. 煎油饼 jian you bing Folded fried pancake. 锅贴 guo tie Lightly salted baked pancake. 煎饼 jian bing Fried pancake. (Pictured left.) 春卷 chun juan Pancake roll, sometimes with filling. 油炸饼 you zha bing Fried pancake with filling. 葱油饼 cong you bing Fried spring onion pancake.
Cabbage and Mushrooms	白菜木耳	bai cai mu er	Yes	Stir fried cabbage with wood ear mushrooms, and a few other vegetables such as carrot.
Candied Vegetables	挂浆	gua jiang	Yes	North-eastern dishes of candied vegetables, usually pumpkin. Very sticky and difficult to eat after they set!  When hot, really hot - some restaurants provide dipping water to cool the pieces down. Chinese Pinyin Description 南瓜挂浆 nan gua gua jiang Pumpkin candy. (most common) 土豆挂浆 tu dou gua jiang Potato candy. (also common) 香蕉挂浆 xiang jiao gua jiang Banana candy. (uncommon) 苹果挂浆 ping guo gua jiang Apple candy. (uncommon)
Chinese Buns	包子	bao zi	Yes	Breakfast buns filled with all sorts of tasty goodies.  You can acquire these from streetside vendors - just look for steaming piles of round, bamboo containers.  Most buns are lightly salted. Chinese Pinyin Description 花卷 hua juan Salted flour bun with diced spring onion throughout. 菜包 * cai bao Catch all name for buns with vegetable mix inside. *Watch out, some 菜包 contain a small amount of diced meat, so remember to ask before buying! 香菇菜包 xiang gu cai bao Salted bun with mushroom and vegetable mix inside. 豆沙包 dou sha bao Sweet bun with red bean paste inside.
Cold Cucumber Salad	凉拌黄瓜	liang ban huang gua	Yes	A lightly salted cucumber salad with chilli, served cold.
Crispy-Skin Tofu	脆皮豆腐	cui pi dou fu	Yes	Blocks of tofu served sweet red sauce.
Dumplings	菜饺子	cai jiao zi	Yes	These are little, boiled, flour-wrapped packages with various veggies inside, usually served in a soup, with additional sauces such as vinegar and soy for flavouring. Warning: Many places serve these in soups which include chicken stock.  Some places may include small amounts of meat.  Ask using the phrases listed above, or inspect before ordering.
Egg and Tomato Soup	番茄蛋汤	fan qie dan tang	No	A simple soup made of eggs and tomato.  Salty, and available country-wide.
Eggplant with Chilli and Potato	地三鲜	di san xian	Yes	Stir fried eggplant, chilli and potato braised with soy sauce.  Northern dish.
Fried Beansprouts	炒豆芽	chao dou ya	Yes	Stir fried beansprouts, lightly salted.  Sometimes accompanied with carrot or cucumber.  Sometimes served cold.
Garlic Fried Chinese Spinach	蒜泥菠菜	suan ni bo cai	Yes	Garlic stir-fried Chinese spinach.
Golden Needle Mushrooms & Cucumber (cold)	金针菇拌黄瓜	jin zhen gu ban huang gua	Yes	A cold dish: mixed golden needle mushrooms (long, thin, white ones), shredded cucumber, coriander and garlic.  Northern dish.
Green Chilli & Potato Shreds	青椒土豆丝	qing jiao tu dou si	Yes	Northern dish. Shredded green chilli and potato, lightly salted and fried with oil.  The chillis are not usually very hot.  Sometimes includes onion.
Green Chilli & Dried Tofu	青椒干豆腐	qing jiao gan dou fu	Yes	Northern dish. Green chilli slices and piles of thinly cut dried tofu sheets.  The chillis are not usually hot.
Homestyle Tofu	家常豆腐	jia chang dou fu	Yes	A mild, slightly sweet and chewy tofu dish with a tomato-based sauce and veggies. Warning: Sometimes has meat.  Ask using the phrases listed above, or inspect before ordering.
Hot & Sour Soup	酸辣汤	suan la tang	Yes	A hot and sour soup, usually very thick, with mushrooms, bamboo shoots, carrots and chilli. Warning: Sometimes has meat.  Ask using the phrases listed above, or inspect before ordering.
Hot Pepper Tofu	麻辣豆腐	ma la dou fu	Yes	Not to be confused with ma po do fu, which has meat, this is a hot, stir-fried tofu dish which goes well with rice and can be eaten right across the country.
Hot Pot	火锅	huo guo	Yes	Most parts of China have 'hot pot' restaurants, which provide respite from endless rice or noodle dishes.  The basic idea is that you get a pot, with boiling water or soup, and then order various things to put in.  Because this is entirely voluntary (opt in on each ingredient) it's entirely safe for vegetarians and vegans.  The only problem is the soup - use the phrase list above to ensure you have hot water instead of a meat stock to start with.  The hotpot pictured on the left is a 'yuan yang guo', which features two soups - often one hot and one watery.
Ice Cream	冰淇淋	bing qi lin	Some	There's a huge array of ice creams available across China, which usually vary a lot more in texture, material, taste and price than those available in western countries, which are mostly dominated by the products two or three ice cream companies.  Vegans can probably safely try the green or red bean flavoured ice poles.
Milk	牛奶	niu nai	No	In some cities milk can be found on the street at special vendors.  In many places, however, you will have to go to a store.
Mushroom & Gluten Clay Pot	香菇面筋煲	xiang gu mian jing bao	Yes	A hot clay pot containing a soup with fragrant mushrooms, green veggies and gluten balls.  One of my favourites.  Southern dish. Warning: Sometimes the soup may contain chicken stock.  Ask using the phrases listed above, or inspect before ordering.
Mushroom & Veggie Hearts	香菇菜心 香菇青菜	xiang gu cai xin xiang gu qing cai	Yes	Mushrooms in a thick, strong, salty sauce, with green vegetables.  Occasionally includes additional vegetables such as carrot.  Some restaurants will lay the dish out in a quaint flower pattern.
Naan (Moslem Bread)	新疆大饼 馕	xin jiang da bing nang	Yes	If you miss bread, as I sure did, just find a moslem restaurant.  A great many of these will have 'Xinjiang' (the name of China's westernmost province) in the name.  The phrase I have heard used is 'xinjiang da bing' (Xinjiang big bread/biscuit), however you can say naan instead (the name for bread in the Turkic languages of Central Asia).
Oyster Mushrooms	蚝油双菇	hao you shuang gu	No	Various mushrooms stir fried with oyster sauce.  Not particularly common.
Porridges (Congees)	粥	zhou	Some	Chinese Pinyin Description 红豆粥 hong dou zhou Red bean porridge (sweet). 大米粥 da mi zhou White rice porridge (sometimes sweet). 黑米粥 hei mi zhou Black rice porridge with jujubes (sweet). 八宝粥 ba bao zhou Eight ingredient porridge (sweet). 小米粥 xiao mi zhou Millet congee. 玉米粥 yu mi zhou Corn / maize porridge. 绿豆粥 lv dou zhou Green bean porridge (sometimes sweet).
Shredded Kelp	凉拌海带丝	liang ban hai dai si	Yes	Just what it sounds like - kelp.  Reportedly good with vinegar.
Sour Spicy Cabbage	酸辣白菜	suan la bai cai	Yes	Cabbage dish made from chilli, salt, garlic and cabbage, sometimes with  pepper added.
Soya milk	豆浆	dou jiang	Yes	Soy milk, often found boiling at breakfast time.  Plain, sweet or salty versions are available.  Usually if you have a bowl of this at breakfast, you can also eat various munchies alongside. Chinese Pinyin Description 油条 you tiao Deep fried doughstick. Long, munchy things hard to handle with chopsticks. These soften up once you give them a good bathing in soy milk. (Pictured left)
Stir-fried Cabbage	炒白菜	chao bai cai	Yes	Stir fried cabbage, usually with a little bit of chilli and salt.  See also Sour Spicy Cabbage.
Tiger Salad	老虎菜	lao hu cai	Yes	There are two main variants of this.  North-eastern (dong bei) and North-western (xi bei).  Both dishes are essentially a mix of onion and chilli strips tossed with vinegar and usually coriander.  The xi beivariant, which I prefer, also includes tomato.  Goes great with breads.
Tofu Brains	豆腐脑	dou fu nao	Yes	Great breakfast-time soup dish made from tofu, woodear musrooms, coriander and chilli. Warning: Watch out for dried shrimps - some places will sprinkle them on top.
Yoghurt	酸奶	suan nai	No	In many places you can buy yoghurt in glass bottles with tinfoil or paper lids from street vendors. These are most active in the morning.  Also, in other areas you can often buy yoghurt in larger food stores or convenience stores.

Fruits and Nuts

Common and recognisable fruits include pineapples, mangoes and bananas (especially in the southwest, where they are grown, or in the east, where they are shipped from the Philippines), watermelons (grown in the west and north of the country) and apples(for which Shandong province is famous).

A host of extra, unrecognisable fruits are also available in to the melon category, and in tropical climes to the south.

Prices for fresh fruits and vegetables are very low - though rising - and you can still find numerous small fruit and vegetable markets in even the largest cities.

Nuts such as peanuts (hua sheng), cashews (yao guo) and pistachios (kai xin guo) are also readily available. They come fresh in the market, salted, packaged, fried or even coated.

Western Food

Although most 'western' food in China is of terrible quality with an inversely proportional price tag, there are some gems available.

Firstly, many cities in China now have cheap French breadsticks available through Walmart or Carrefour supermarkets.

More expensive imported goods such as cheese and wine are also available.

Pizza is usually a safe option for non-vegans intending to eat 'western' anywhere in China - it's hard to do badly, but do be careful of the toppings since Chinese have a strange fondness for corn on pizza!

Vegetarian food on Chinese buses / trains / planes

The sleeper trains across China are very convenient but do not provide vegetarian fare. Although there is a dining cart which, as a side dish, usually will have something edible, don't bet on it.

You would be best to bring your own fruit, biscuits or vegetarian instant noodles to have on the train. (Hot water is available in large thermoses and is constantly refilled by attendants.)

You can hop off the trains during longer stops and acquire various vegetarian munchies such as peanuts, packaged and spiced preserved tofu (but be careful! some flavoured tofu packs contain meat flavouring!), biscuits, etc.

The same munchies can be procured for long bus journeys.

Reportedly some Chinese airlines now provide vegetarian meals if you book them in advance.

 

Comment by Shivi Sabharwal on November 29, 2012 at 5:25pm

*我不吃肉。

I don't eat Meat. Wo Bu Chi Rou
*我不吃蛋、鱼及其它海鲜。

I don't eat egg and also don't eat fish or any other sea food. Wo Bu Chi Dan, Yu Ji Qi Ta Hai Xian. 
*我不吃牛肉。

I don't eat beef. Wo Bu Chi Niu Rou.
*我是一个素食者。

I am a vegetarian. Wo Shi Yi Ge Su Shi Zhe.
*我想要一杯水。

I want one glass of water. Wo Xiang Yao Yi Bei Shui. 
*我想要一杯可乐

I want one Coke. Wo Xiang Yao Yi Bei Ke Lei.
*我想要一瓶啤酒。

I want 1 beer. Wo Xiang Yao Yi Ping Pi Jiu.
*我想要果汁；苹果汁/橙汁。

 I want Juice; Apple Juice/Orange Juice) Wo Xiang Yao Guo Zhi; Ping Guo Zhi/ Cheng Zhi
*我要热的，不要冷的。

I want hot; not cold. Wo Yao Re De, Bu Yao Leng De.
*我不要太辣。

I don't want very spicy. Wo Bu Yao Tai La.

* 蔬菜Vegetables Shu Cai 
* 西兰花 Broccoli   Xi Lan Hua
* 辣椒 Capsicum La Jiao
* 洋葱Onion Yang Cong
* 菜花Cauliflower Cai Hua
* 蕃茄Tomato Fan Qie
* 茄子Egg Plant Qie Zi
* 南瓜Pumpkin Nan Gua
* 芹菜Corn Qin Cai
* 姜Ginger Jiang
* 蒜Garlic Suan
* 白菜Cabbage Ba Cai
* 胡萝卜Carrot Hu Luo Bo
* 四季豆Beans Si Ji Dou
* 青椒Chillies Hu Pi Qing Jiao
* 土豆Potato Tudo
* 蘑菇Mushroom Mo Gu
* 黄瓜Cucumber Huang Gua
* 柠檬Lemon Ning Meng
  水果FRUITS Shui Guo
* 苹果Apple Ping Guo
* 梨Pear Li
* 草莓Strawberry Cao Mei
* 菠萝Pineapple Bo Luo
* 香蕉Banana Xiang Jiao
* 葡萄 Grape Pu Tao
* 桃子Peach Tao Zi 
* 橙子Orange (kinu) Ju Zi
* 荔枝 Litchi Li Zhi
* 芒果Mango Mang Guo
* 樱桃 Cherry Ying Tao
* 橙子Orange Cheng Zi 
* 椰子Coconut Ye Zi
* 西瓜Water Melon Xi Gua
* 琵琶Loquat Pi Pa
* 桑葚Mulberry Sang Shen 

  其它Other Things
* 水Water Shui
* 牛奶Milk Nui Nai
* 茶Tea Cha
* 咖啡Coffee Ka Fei
* 食物Food Shi Wu

Comment by Shivi Sabharwal on November 29, 2012 at 5:25pm

Vegetables and Fruits in Pinyin... Chinese ..and English

 

* SU SHI 素食，不要肉，不要鱼，不要鸡蛋 VEGETARIAN: NO MEAT, NO FISH, NO EGG

* TU DOU SHA LA 土豆沙拉 PATATO SALAND

* SI JI DOU 四季豆 KIDNEY BEAN

* XI LAN HUA 西兰花 BROCOLI

* QIE ZI 茄子 EGG PLANT

* HU PI QING JIAO 虎皮青椒 CHILIES

* YU MI 玉米 CORN

* DOU FU 豆腐 TOFU

* BAI CAI 白菜 CAGGAGE

* HU LUO BO 胡萝卜 CARROT

* HUANG GUA 黄瓜 CUCUMBER

* FAN QIE 番茄 TOMATO

* LA JIAO 辣椒 CAPSICUM

* BAO CAI 包菜 CABBAGE

* MO GU 蘑菇 MUSHROOM

* BO CAI 菠菜 SPINACH

* HUA CAI 花菜 CAULIFLOWER

* DONG GUA 冬瓜 WAX GOURD

*NAN GUA 南瓜 PUMPKIN

*KU GUA 苦瓜 BALSAM PEAR

* SHE CAI 生菜 LETTUCE

* QIN CAI 芹菜 CELERY

* OU 藕 LOTUS ROOT

* BIAN DOU 扁豆 HARICOT

*YANG CONG 洋葱 ONION

*CONG 葱 SHALLOT

* ZHU SUN 竹笋 BAMBOO SHOOT

* LU SUN 芦笋 ASPARAGUS

* YU TOU 芋头 TARO

* JIU CAI 韭菜 LEEK

* JIANG 姜 GINGER

* MAO DOU 毛豆 GREEN SOY BEAN

* SUAN 蒜 GARLIC

 

*    PING GUO 苹果 APPLE

*       LI 梨 PEAR

*       CAO MEI 草莓 STRAW ERRY

*       BO LUO 菠萝 PINEAPPLE

*       XIANG JIAO 香蕉 BANANA

*       JU ZI 桔子 ORANGE

*    MI HOU TAO 猕猴桃 KIWI FRUIT

*       XI GUA 西瓜WATERMELON

*      TAO ZI 桃子PEACH

*      PU TAO 葡萄 GRAPE

*    LI ZHI 荔枝 LITCHI

*      MANG GUO 芒果 MANGO

*      YING TAO 樱桃 CHERRY

*       CHENG ZI 橙子 ORANGE

*     HA MI GUA 哈密瓜 CANTALOUP

*     MU GUA 木瓜 PAWPAW

*       LI ZI 李子 PLUM

*       NING MENG 柠檬 LEMON

*       YE ZI 椰子 COCONUT

*       YANG TAO 杨桃 STARFRUIT

*       LIU LIAN 榴莲 CKURIAN

*       SHI ZI 柿子 PERSIMMON

*       XING 杏 APRICOT

*       HUO LONG GUO 火龙果 PITAYA

*       PI PA 枇杷 LOQUAT

*       SANG SHEN 桑葚 MULBERRY

*       LAN MEI 蓝莓 BLUE FRUIT

*       XIANG GUA 香瓜 MUSKMELON

*       GUI YUAN 桂圆 LONGAN

*       SHI LIU 石榴 MEGRANATE

Comment by Maxwell Harris on November 29, 2012 at 8:31am

Tips on being veggie in Guangzhou?

Comment by SEXY-CAT on November 5, 2012 at 11:47pm

specially in china should stay being vegetarian, factorial mass production and commercial purpose, the food in china become such unsafe. specially in the big city, stay vegetarian is much safer.

Comment by Jamie on November 4, 2012 at 1:30am

Nice to know someone else is a vegetarian in gzstuff.you are totally right.there are many vege-restaurant in GZ and I've download all the address.More or less,I have being a vegetarian for two years.Unfortunately,I always be laughed by my cowokers in here...