Where to Eat in China: the 9 Best Dim Sum and Dumpling Tours

1.Xi’an: Great Tang Dynasty Night Show & Dumpling Meal Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 177 reviews · 1.5 - 3 hours · from $34Our pick

See a one-hour Tang Dynasty music and dance show in Xi’an, with five scenes about Empress Wu Zetian, live music, colorful costumes, and English and Chinese screen text. Add a dumpling dinner and hotel pickup if useful. The show usually begins at 7:30 PM, and you should arrive 30 minutes early.

“The show was great. The food was a lot even that we arrived late they still bring all of them”

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2.Top-Rated Hong Kong Tour: Peak Tram, Dim Sum & Cultural Sights

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 99 reviews · from $76

This roughly six-hour Hong Kong tour combines the Peak Tram, Victoria Peak, Tai Kwun, Hollywood Road, Man Mo Temple, a 10-dish Tim Ho Wan meal and, on afternoon departures from April 1, a 45-minute sunset harbour cruise. Guides such as Simon, Ricky, Rex and Pearline lead the group, with pickup and drop-off at the Holiday Inn Golden Mile.

“The tram was a fine experience and beating the line was great. There is a pretty large amount of walking so take into account. The harbor cruise was a quick circle but gave nice nighttime viees.”

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3.Organic Chinese Dumpling Class with Market Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews · from $100Top rated

Meet host Feliz at Jordan MTR Station for a guided local-market walk, then prepare dumpling filling, handmade wrappers, and 10 dumplings in a café kitchen. Organic pork is used, with vegetarian and vegan choices available by request. The small-group class begins at 6 pm and ends back at the meeting point.

“It was a great experience to learn how to make dumplings from scratch. The wet market walk was interesting. Feliz did not text me the right recipe for the dumplings.”

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4.Xi’an Tang Dynasty Show Ticket Optional Dumplings or Royal Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 75 reviews · from $37

Spend an evening with Tang-era music, dance, costumes, lights, and a live Chinese orchestra at Xi’an’s Tang Dynasty theatre. Choose show-only admission, a dumpling banquet, or a royal dinner. The standard show runs 19:30 to 20:35, with dinner at 18:00. English story screens help you follow the performance.

“My friend and I booked both unknowingly booked the Huaqing palace and Xi'an Tang dynasty show on the same day with the same travel company. The company reached out and as a thank you, provided a free taxi from the show back to our hotel. The travel company went out of thier way to provide an amazing service and I would definitely recommend booking through them. Both the palace and show were well worth it and enjoyable. Thank you Xi'an China Travel service!”

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5.Beijing: Dumpling Making Workshop with Meal and Tea

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 69 reviews · 3 hours · from $35

Meet your English-speaking guide at a Beijing hotel lobby for a three-hour dumpling class. Learn to roll wrappers, prepare or work with fillings, fold several shapes, and cook your dumplings. Hosts including Eric, Jenny, Janine, and others add local stories, tea, extra dishes, and drinks to the shared meal.

“Heyang and his sister are excellent teachers. I booked this knowing nothing about how to make dumplings. But they guide you through the entire process and the meaning of dumplings in Chinese culture and cuisine. We made dozens of both meat and vegetable dumplings. I got to chat with the other participants as the dumplings were boiled. In the end, we got to eat a delicious meal and have a few beers. Highly recommended experience in Beijing.”

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6.Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · from $20Best value

Join Chef Sunflower Li live from Beijing for a private 60 to 90 minute Zoom cooking class. Choose dumplings, hand-pulled noodles, dim sum, kung pao chicken, steamed buns, or a vegan dish. You receive the ingredient list three days ahead, then cook from scratch with guidance suited to your level.

“I enjoyed very much learning to prepare dumplings and they turned out better than expected! It was so nice hearing all your anecdotes about family meal traditions! The ingredients list sent in advance was clear and instructions easy to follow, also well equipped with the two cameras. Thank you for this fun experience!”

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7.Half-Day Private Beijing Hutong Walking Tour with Dim Sum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · from $148

Spend four hours exploring Beijing’s hutongs with a private English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, and return transfer. Walk Nanluoguxiang, Yu’er and Mao’er Hutongs, the Bell and Drum Towers, Yandai Xie Street, and Houhai. Sample bubble tea, red bean dessert, and mantou buns, then enjoy lunch when the selected option includes it.

“One of our highlights of Beijing. Our guide was wonderful. Learned much that most tourists miss about the entryways of the houses.”

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8.Shanghai-Cooking Dumpling & Meal in Local Family-w/Vegan

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 36 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $82

Spend 3.5 hours in Jing'an learning dumplings from Bonnie and her mother. You will make wrappers and fillings from scratch, share a meal of local dishes, and get personal tips for Shanghai and nearby cities. The small group is limited to six, with vegan and allergy needs handled when arranged in advance.

“corso molto piacevole in compagnia di Bonnie e la madre (anche una zia ha fatto una capatina), conviviali, disponibili e accoglienti. Ci hanno preparato un piccolo benvenuto con snack e te verde, dopo una breve introduzione sulla storia dei ravioli ci siamo messi all'opera tutti insieme; preparati gli impasti ed i ripieni, formati i ravioli hanno allestito la cena con prelibatezze di ogni genere. Pura cucina tipica cinese e varia (opzione vegetariana e non): uova centenarie, uova salate, stinky tofu, funghi e maiale, medusa e cetrioli, pollo, tagliatelle di tofu e pokchoi, radice di loto e alghe piccanti, i ravioli ovviamente e tante altre cose, sempre accompagnate da te verde…”

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9.4-Hour Private Tour: Lama Temple, Confucius Temple, Guozijian Museum with Dim Sum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · from $97

Visit Beijing’s Lama Temple, Confucius Temple, and Guozijian Museum with a private English-speaking guide. Choose a morning tour with dim sum lunch or an afternoon visit with dinner. Guides such as Lucy, Ana, Jessie, Roy, and Jack have led past departures, though names vary. Hotel pickup is offered, while return transport depends on your booking option.

“Rich in culture and history tour! If you want to know more of the Chinese culture, this tour is a must for you. Our English tour guide Ana is well verse on the different stories in the past.”

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