food

No Free Lunch: China’s Takeout War Wraps Up Without a Winner

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

Meituan, JD.com, and Alibaba poured billions into subsidies. Now they’re pulling back after steep losses.

Chen Yiru

Why Chinese Culinary Customs Aren’t Weird, but Smart

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

VOICES & OPINION

That Chinese people will eat anything is a foreign misconception. Instead, foreigners could learn a thing or two from the way China treats its food.

Zhou Hongcheng

The Women Who Translated Chinese Cuisine Into American

Chinese food became a popular American dinner because of the pioneering work of two women who, in the middle of the 20th century, set out to teach the flavors of home to their new country.

Hugo Tseng

Never Too Late: China’s Takeout Apps Remove Tardy Delivery Fines

Food delivery platforms are piloting programs in which drivers are no longer fined for missing delivery deadlines, implementing points-based evaluation systems and increasing social benefits for drivers instead.

Fan Yiying

Inside the Rise and Popularity of Sichuan Cuisine

From rare, refined delicacy to proletarian delight, Sichuanese cuisine made its way from China’s mountainous interior to countries around the world — beginning its delectable journey outward.

Zhou Songfang

All That and Dim Sum: Canton Moves to Regulate Morning Tea

The southern city of Guangzhou has drafted a policy regulating the labeling of dim sum dishes in an effort to preserve authenticity, freshness, and cultural heritage.

He Qitong

Why Frozen Food Gets an Icy Reception in China

Chinese diets are dictated by a culture of eating ingredients just hours after slaughtering or harvesting.

Zhong Shuru

Shanghai School Lunch Scandal Leads to Investigation, Reforms

The lunches, supplied by catering company Green Express, were recalled after some schools had already served them, prompting outrage from parents and city-wide reform of school catering contracts.

Feud Between Chinese Restaurant and Celebrity Leads to Change

Xibei, a popular chain, has faced backlash in the last week regarding its reported use of pre-made food in supposedly freshly-made menu items, resulting in an apology and change.

A Matcha Made in China: The Lost Origins of Today’s Trendiest Tea

Long before Japan made it iconic, matcha began as a ritual in Song Dynasty China, powdered, whisked, and judged for elegance. Today, China is supplying the world once more.

Liu Shuman

Gansu Kindergarten Poisoning: 6 Arrests, Probe Finds Cover-Up

Authorities say over 240 children were poisoned by lead-tainted food at Peixin Kindergarten, with school leaders, hospital staff, and regulators all implicated in a widening investigation.

No-Fuss Food: The Rise of China’s Home-Cooking Influencers

Faced with long hours at the office and bored by takeout, some urban professionals are turning to social media for tips on simple, homestyle meals.

Li Xin

Yang  Xinrui 

What’s the Right Way to Translate Chinese Dish Names?

Finding the right way to render a dish like “husband and wife slices” into English isn’t easy.

What’s in That Mooncake? China Says “Zero” Labels Must Mean Something

Regulators are banning vague “clean label” claims and requiring companies to disclose exactly how much of each ingredient is in the food.

Taste Test: China’s Herders Chew on ‘Fake’ Meat Dilemma

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

SIXTH TONE ×

With the influx of cheap imported meat, nomadic herders are having to tighten their belts. Some can’t even afford to eat their own livestock.

Wei  Yiran

Phagpa Sherab

Canton to the Desert: How Mexicali Preserved the Soul of Chinese-Mexican Fusion

A Chinese chef takes a trip through the unique flavors of a Mexican border state.

Yu Chenfeng

‘Red Ghost’ Algae Swarms China’s Coast, Threatening Marine Life

Residents in southern China report algae blanketing beaches as experts warn of increasing pollution, health hazards, and risks to fisheries.

The Chinese Dining Chains Making a Play for World Domination

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

Hot pot and milk tea have become global phenomena, but most brands remain focused on countries closer to home.

Luo Yahan

Wang Jingyang

The Puzzling History of China’s Most Controversial Flavoring

Monosodium glutamate, better known as MSG, is a Japanese import that became as Chinese as Kung Pao chicken. But its spread was more historical accident than foreordained.

How McDonald’s Became China’s New Favorite Wedding Venue

Young Chinese are increasingly opting for simple, affordable wedding ceremonies. That’s leading many to the golden arches.