City: Xian
Food is one of the most vivid ways to explore local culture, and this Xi'an Shaanxi Cuisine DIY experience combines a guided food walking tour and hands-on cooking workshop for overseas student and adult groups. The tour starts with a guided stroll through the Muslim Quarter and Sajin Bridge, less touristy local food lanes. Accompanied by an English-speaking food guide, students taste classic local specialties: crispy roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), lamb paomo, sweet zenggao, cold noodles and spiced beef. The guide shares stories about the history of Shaanxi food, the influence of Silk Road trade on local cuisine, and the dining customs of northwest China.
Later, the group moves to a clean local kitchen for the cooking workshop. Under the guidance of local chefs, students learn to knead wheat dough, pull hand-stretched biangbiang noodles and make cold liangpi noodles from scratch. Every participant gets to make their own dish, and taste the food they have prepared at the end of the session. Students also learn the cultural meaning behind these staple foods for local people.
PandaStudyTour takes full responsibility for this food experience. We carefully select safe, hygienic venues and local chefs, arrange English food guides, and offer customised menus for vegetarian, halal and allergen-sensitive groups. We can design fun food scavenger hunt games for student groups during the market walk. This food activity can be integrated into your custom Xi'an study tour or cultural exchange programme, and can also be paired with a local family home visit, so your students can experience home-style Shaanxi food and daily life of local residents.
