Meatless dining in Beijing

Great food is a hallmark of a great civilization and China is no exception. The many fine restaurants in Beijing are testament to the broad array of culinary pleasures on offer in the country. Hungry Beijingers can happily feast on juicy lamb kebabs, spicy kongpao chicken, beef noodles, Peking roast duck, fresh seafood and an endless variety of pork dishes. Eating in Beijing is an adventure for the taste buds.

Vegetarians, or those who date them or are related to them or otherwise spend a lot of time with them, are also in for an adventure when dining out in Beijing - in ways both good and bad.

Foreigners who like to venture beyond the expatriate bubbles of Sanlitun and Houhai to try authentically local fare, particularly those whose grasp of Chinese is limited at best, soon learn that many Beijingers' understanding of being vegetarian is much different to theirs.