food

Shanghai Trials Sugary Beverage Alert System in Stores 

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

Sugary beverages are responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in China each year. Authorities are trying to alert customers of their health impact.

Li Xin

Discount Duel: China’s Top Retail Giants Go Head-to-Head on Prices

With several traditional supermarket chains shutting shop, Sam’s Club and Freshippo are locked in a race to expand their market share and adapt to a new consumer landscape in Beijing and Shanghai.

He Qitong

Dip In Spending Kicks off Price War in China’s Fast-Food Industry

Discounted menus targeting the price-conscious are emerging across the country, leaving small eateries at risk in an increasingly price-sensitive market.

Good News for Cold Noodle Lovers: Authorities Relax License Requirements

Cold food license requirements are being relaxed for restaurants and food establishments, making it easier for them to serve up popular dishes such as liangpi and salads.

Recovering the Lost Smells of China’s Slow Trains

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

The overpowering odors of China’s slow trains have gradually given way to the more antiseptic experience of high-speed rail travel.

Cao Yu

China’s Plant-Based Meat Industry Falters After Initial Hype

The meat alternatives have failed to break through the mainstream in China, amid a slowing down of the industry globally.

Ye Zhanhang

Durian Fans Sniff a Price Drop as China Readies Its Own Harvest

With the domestic durian harvest still far short of meeting annual consumption requirements, experts caution that an impact on prices will take time.

For Cheap Meals, China’s Grown-Ups Take a Seat at the Kids Table

To escape the monotony of takeaway food and eat healthily, busy adults are turning to neighborhood after-school centers.

Dining Cars: How an On-Board Snack Became a Guangdong Legend

They weren’t fancy. They weren’t even Cantonese. But for generations of Guangzhou-Kowloon through train riders, the fresh chicken legs served on board made the whole trip worth it.

An Industrial Town Is Now China’s Hottest Barbecue Spot

The city of Zibo has received a record number of visitors, putting it at the center of a social media frenzy.

China Puts Banquet Food Waste in the Spotlight 

Clients should be able to choose the combination of dishes served at their banquets, according to a new draft notice.

Gansu Plans to Standardize Lanzhou Beef Noodles 

Local authorities seek to bring conformity and raise the profile of the province’s signature dish.

Eating Disorder Awareness Campaign Gains Momentum in China

Many young Chinese have never heard of eating disorders, and this lack of awareness makes the conditions even more dangerous. But a grassroots campaign is starting to put the issue on the public agenda.

Fan Yiying

Tired of Cafeterias, Students Go for Lunch at Construction Sites

School cafeterias have often been called out for substandard and drab meals.

Yang Caini

As International Competition Mounts, Can China’s Wineries Survive?

Since 2016, reduced tariffs on imported wines have taken a bite out of domestic producers’ market.

Xiao Kunbing

The Breakfast Ties That Bind

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

Wenzhou sticky rice, a staple morning meal from the southern city known for its entrepreneurship, is the glue that holds a global diaspora together.

The World of Chinese

‘Lazy Economy’ Is Taking Off in China

Convenience-driven consumption is gaining popularity among young Chinese not wanting to spend time cooking and cleaning.

Can China’s ‘All-Natural’ Mushrooms Make the Grade?

Climate change, environmental degradation, and over-harvesting have devastated mushroom resources in Southwest China. One solution is sustainable cultivation, but winning over consumers isn’t easy.

Li Ruijun

‘Consumption Downgrade’: Buffets in China Enjoy a Revival 

Diners are ready for all-you-can-eat deals as they seek more for their money.

Luo Meihan

In Southwest China, Truffles Smell a Lot Like Money

A complex network of intermediaries has helped turn the fungus from afterthought into a sought-after luxury good.