Chengde Restaurants

Where there were emperors, there were also attendant armies of the country's best chefs doing everything humanly possible to tickle the imperial taste buds. Although little of that culinary sophistication remains, the wild deer and mushroom-braised baby chicken that once fed the sons of heaven are still local specialties. Almonds also have a special place in the hearts of Chengde's chefs and are must-try specialties.

Chengde is located in the most fertile area of Hebei Province, produces maize and sorghum and also yields excellent local chestnuts, mushrooms and apricots. This fresh produce, plus the culinary legacy of the imperial cooks, means it is possible to eat very well here. The town is noted for its wild game, particularly deer, hare and pheasant, and its medicinal juice drinks. Almond juice is said to be good for asthma; date and jujube juice for the stomach; and jinlianhua juice for sore throat. Local cakes, such as the glutinous Feng family cakes, once an imperial delicacy but now a casual snack, can be found in the stalls on Yuhua Lu and Qingfeng Jie. Rose cakes, a sweet, crisp pastry cake are sold in Chengde's department stores.

PRICE GUIDE
$ = inexpensive
$$ = reasonable
$$$ = expensive
$$$$ = very expensive

The Qianlong Dumpling Restaurant
Add: #10-11 Qingfeng Dong Jie
Description: serves delicious dumplings
Type of Cuisine: Local Cuisine
Hours: 10:00-20:00
Average Cost: $
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin

Nanxinglong Food Street
Add: Nanxinglong St.
Description: hotpot and every kind of almond snack imaginable.
Type of Cuisine: Local Cuisine
Hours: 11:00-22:00
Average Cost: $
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin

Yihua Lu
Add: Yihua Rd.
Description: open-air stalls on Yihua Lu, about one block west of the bus station, serve up plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and try Chengde's specialty, Lulu Almond Juice.
Type of Cuisine: Local Cuisine
Hours: 11:00-22:00
Average Cost: $
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin

QiaoYang hotel
Add: QiaoYang Hotel
Description: various local specialties.
Type of Cuisine: Local Cuisine
Hours: 11:00-20:00
Average Cost: $-$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese, English
Language Spoken: Mandarin, English

Islamic restaurant
Add: Around the corner from the Summer Resort Imperial Palace.
Description: grilled lamb is a specialty
Type of Cuisine: Local Cuisine
Hours: 11:00-21:00
Average Cost: $$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin, English