Ruijie & Sascha
Trail of China · May 2025
Dim Sum
Guangzhou INVENTED dim sum. This is the real thing — not the version you get abroad.
Why You'll Love It
Dim sum in Guangzhou is to dim sum everywhere else what pizza in Naples is to pizza everywhere else — the original, the benchmark, the thing against which all others are measured.
The Cantonese tradition of yum cha (饮茶, "drink tea") started here centuries ago. Families gather on weekend mornings for hours, ordering small dishes from carts or menus, drinking pot after pot of pu'er or chrysanthemum tea, and catching up on life. The must-orders are the classics: har gow (translucent shrimp dumplings), siu mai (open-topped pork dumplings), char siu bao (fluffy BBQ pork buns), and cheung fun (silky rice noodle rolls).
In Guangzhou, you'll also find items that rarely appear abroad: chicken feet (凤爪, feng zhao) braised in black bean sauce, steamed spare ribs with garlic, and rice noodle rolls filled with either shrimp, beef, or pork. Come before 8 AM on weekends for the freshest dishes and the full social experience.
About Dim Sum
Dim sum (早茶/饮茶, literally "morning tea" or "drink tea") originated in Guangzhou and the Pearl River Delta. The tradition dates back to teahouses along the Silk Road where travelers stopped for tea and small dishes. Over centuries, it evolved into the Cantonese institution of yum cha — a leisurely morning meal of small shared dishes served with endless tea.
Guangzhou's dim sum restaurants range from century-old institutions to modern high-rises. The best are in Yuexiu and Liwan districts, where competition keeps quality at the highest standard in the world.
Practical Details
Getting There
The best dim sum restaurants are in Liwan District (near Shamian Island) and Yuexiu District (near Beijing Road). Take Line 1 to Huangsha or Chen Clan Academy. Tianhe also has excellent options near Tiyu Xilu.
What to Skip
Skip the overpriced hotel dim sum restaurants unless you want the luxury experience. Skip Beijing Road dim sum — overpriced and mediocre. The best dim sum is in neighborhood restaurants where locals eat.
Essential Information
Location
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