Eating mala hot pot, Peking duck, mapo tofu, or dumplings in China? Ah, that’s nothing new! If you’re off to the Middle Kingdom soon, why not try some of the viral food in China on TikTok that’ll really shake up your taste buds?

Many say China’s a paradise for food lovers. Food here isn’t just about eating, it’s tied to travel, culture, and the whole experience. No matter which city you head to, there’ll be a long list of eats everyone’s raving about on social media, especially on TikTok. No wonder, food hunting is not as separable as one of things to do in China!

Lately, those recommendations have gone a bit wild and sparked plenty of chatter. Some of them might make you raise an eyebrow or get your stomach rumbling just from the sight, but loads are genuinely tempting and worth a try. 

In the end, exploring viral food in China means diving into its cities, festivals, traditions, and activities all at once. Dare to try?

When people talk about travelling to China, the conversation almost always swings towards food. And for good reason.. Food in China isn’t just fuel, it’s a way of life, deeply tied to history, traditions, and social bonding. 

From the philosophy of yin and yang in balancing flavours, food in China is deeply rooted in harmony and wellbeing. The ritual of sharing dishes around a round table turns every meal into a cultural experience.

For tourists, this makes food one of the biggest attractions when visiting various China city. Take Beijing for instance. You don’t just climb the Great Wall or wander the Forbidden City; you round off the day with Peking Duck, carved at your table with all the theatrics. 

Festivals add another layer to this experience. Tourists who time their visit with Chinese New Year can witness the cultural significance of dumplings and sticky rice cakes during family reunion dinners. The Mid-Autumn Festival introduces mooncakes, each with its own regional twist, often shared under lantern-lit skies. 

Food tours, night markets, and even cooking classes are now popular activities for travellers. Apps and social media — especially TikTok and Xiaohongshu — have made China national dishes, China traditional food, even fusion Chinese food go viral, adding a new dimension to China’s tourism. For many visitors, chasing down these viral eats is as much an attraction as temples or scenic landscapes.

You can find Chinese food in almost every corner of the world, and chances are your taste buds are already familiar with it. But tasting Chinese food in China itself? They say that’s a whole different level.

Of course, every region has its own flavours, traditions, and must-try dishes — and the best part is, food is always closely linked with the attractions you’ll be visiting. Let’s see the example:

When people talk about Beijing food, the first dish that usually comes to mind is the world-famous Peking Duck. It’s so iconic that many consider it almost like China national food. 

Crispy skin, tender meat, and delicate pancakes — it’s a must-try after a day exploring the Great Wall or the Forbidden City. But Beijing’s food culture goes far beyond duck. You’ll find hearty hand-pulled noodles and street-side lamb skewers, a reminder of northern China’s cold winters and bold flavours.

Meanwhile in Xi’an, food and history go hand in hand. After marvelling at the Terracotta Warriors, most travellers head straight to the Muslim Quarter. Here, you can taste cumin-scented lamb, flatbreads, and local dumplings. The mix of Silk Road influences makes Xi’an food a true cross-cultural experience.

This region is heaven for spice lovers. Chengdu food is known for its bold flavours, numbing Sichuan peppercorns, and street snacks. A trip to the city isn’t complete without diving into a bubbling pot of Chengdu hot pot. Pair this with a visit to the Chengdu Panda Research Centre, and you’ll have a day that feeds both your curiosity and your appetite.

Then, Chongqing food brings the heat even further. The city is famous for its street food culture and ultra-spicy hotpot, considered even more intense than Chengdu’s. After a Yangtze River cruise, treat yourself to skewers, spicy noodles, and sizzling snacks that showcase Chongqing’s lively food scene.

If you prefer subtler flavours, head east. Shanghai is home to the beloved Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings), a delicate dish that pairs perfectly with a stroll along the Bund’s skyline. Hangzhou offers elegant dishes like West Lake fish in vinegar sauce, while Suzhou’s canals are dotted with teahouses and spots for dim sum.

Eastern cuisine tends to be lighter and slightly sweet, making it a good contrast to the spicier options in Sichuan and Chongqing. Sightseeing here is all about balance — just like the food.

This region is the heart of Cantonese cuisine and Guangdong food, famous for its variety and refined flavours. Guangzhou food is synonymous with dim sum culture. Picture yourself sipping tea and sampling small plates of dumplings, buns, and pastries during a traditional morning yum cha session.

In Hong Kong, the night markets are buzzing with energy, offering everything from egg waffles to seafood hotpots. Macau adds a twist with Portuguese-Chinese fusion dishes, perfect to enjoy after a day of exploring heritage sites or even trying your luck at the casinos.

The cuisine of northwest China is unlike anywhere else in the country. Strongly influenced by Central Asia, Xinjiang food is all about grilled meats, hand-pulled noodles, and aromatic spices. Think juicy lamb kebabs, golden naan bread, and hearty pilaf.

Tourists often combine food adventures with Silk Road attractions, from ancient ruins to camel rides across the desert. Imagine ending a day under the stars with freshly grilled lamb skewers, a quintessential experience of Xinjiang food culture.

With social media growing fast and content going viral so easily, all sorts of unique and tweaked food in China are spreading like wildfire. It’s not uncommon to see people in other countries trying to recreate these dishes in their own way. And for many, curiosity wins — turning some of China’s most popular food into must-try experiences when travelling there.

Among the many viral bites, here are 10 viral food in China on TikTok that you’ll definitely want to try:

It is ice cream molded or shaped to look like a real fruit like mango, peach, strawberry, etc. Sometimes these ice cream are also encased in a shell (white chocolate or something similar) makes it look extra convincing.

Just like many noodle dishes from Sichuan, this viral food in China has earned its reputation for being unapologetically spicy. Served in a fiery, aromatic broth loaded with meats and vegetables, it’s the kind of bowl that wakes up all your senses. The spicier it gets, the more people love it.

Dragon beard candy is a popular Chinese snack and viral currently. A confection made by pulling sugar or maltose syrup into very fine threads until it looks like a wispy beard (hence the name). Then it’s wrapped around fillings like peanuts, sesame seeds, shredded coconut.

Mooncakes are one of the most iconic Chinese pastries, traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival as a symbol of reunion and togetherness. In recent years, though, they’ve had a major makeover. Alongside the classic lotus seed paste and salted egg yolk filling, you’ll now find bold new variations like matcha, durian, chocolate truffle, ice cream, and even cheese. 

A sweet traditional soup made with white fungus, rock sugar, and often fruits like red dates or goji berries. It’s refreshing and unique, since fungus is usually used in savoury dishes. Many also believe it’s good for the body, especially for cooling down from internal heat.

A humble yet fiery street snack — silky blocks of tofu dusted with chilli powder, sometimes finished with soy sauce or chilli oil for extra punch. It’s an ancient China food with deep roots, yet it still fits perfectly with modern taste buds.

Latiao has long been a favourite snack in China, and now it’s making waves on social media too. It’s the kind of snack that keeps you reaching for just one more piece.

Hairy tofu is tofu that has been left in a controlled, humid environment so that edible mould grows on the surface (fine fuzz). After fermentation, it’s usually pan-fried or deep-fried.

A scoop (or small block) of ice cream that’s first frozen very hard, then coated in batter or crumb, and flash deep-fried. The goal is to get a golden, crispy outer shell while keeping the inside cold and creamy. It’s that contrast of hot vs. cold, crisp vs. soft, that gives it the drama.

Taste & Texture: Crunchy, crisp, often buttery or slightly sweet depending on the batter on the outside. Meanwhile, inside: rich, creamy, icy — just enough melt without totally collapsing. Biting through the shell gives a little crack, then the cold vanilla (or whatever flavour) floods in. If done well, the shell doesn’t get soggy.

Why It’s Viral: It’s the kind of dessert that practically begs to be filmed — that first crack, the flash-frying action, the reveal of the cold core. Perfect for short videos or reels. Also, novelty plays a big part: people love seeing something unexpected (ice + frying).

Where to Try:

Duck feet are braised, boiled, or stir-fried in sauces that range from spicy Sichuan chilli oil to savoury soy-based marinades. Sometimes they’re vacuum-packed as a ready-to-eat snack, sometimes freshly cooked at street stalls.

Taste & Texture: If you’ve tried chicken feet at dim sum, duck feet feel familiar but different. They’re meatier, firmer, and slightly more gelatinous because of the webbing. Instead of just skin and cartilage, you get a bouncy, chewy bite that absorbs whatever sauce it’s cooked in.

Why It’s Viral: For global audiences, it’s the “wow, they really eat that?” factor that gets attention. On TikTok and Douyin, creators love showing the glossy, spiced duck feet being pulled apart or bitten into. The unique texture and the spice kick make it a daring but surprisingly addictive snack — especially among adventurous foodies chasing off-beat eats.

Where to Try

China’s viral food craze is a colourful spin on the country’s already rich culinary tradition. Instead of sticking to the long-celebrated staples, these trending bites are making waves for their bold flavours, quirky looks, and Instagrammable appeal. 

They don’t replace the national or traditional dishes that define Chinese food culture, but rather sit alongside them as playful, experimental, and often youth-driven additions. For travellers, this means you can enjoy the best of both worlds: savour the classics that embody centuries of history, then dive into these viral creations that show how China’s food scene is evolving in real time.

Now, are you ready to plan your food adventure and try all of the viral food in China? Start planning and booking your accommodation, flight, or ticket to attractions right now! You can manage everything easily through Traveloka, with transparent prices, instant confirmation, and refund options.