Create meetup in Xuanzhouchevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
explore Xuanzhou Guides
bar_chart Trends in Xuanzhou
Best Food in Xuanzhou (2026)
Xuanzhou is famous for its Xuanzhou-style noodles, a hearty bowl of wheat noodles in a rich pork bone broth topped with braised pork belly and pickled vegetables. Anotherβ¦ π Must-Try Local Dishes
Xuanzhou is famous for its Xuanzhou-style noodles, a hearty bowl of wheat noodles in a rich pork bone broth topped with braised pork belly and pickled vegetables. Another local specialty is the Xuanzhou stinky tofu, deep-fried and served with a spicy chili sauce, best enjoyed at street stalls near the Old Town. Don't miss the steamed rice rolls filled with minced pork and mushrooms, a popular breakfast item.
πͺ Top Street Food Stalls
Head to the Night Market on Zhongshan Road (open 6 PM to midnight) for the best street food in town. The stall at No. 88, run by Auntie Li, serves legendary fried dumplings for just 5 yuan per order. For grilled skewers, try the corner spot at the intersection of Renmin Road and Jiefang Street, where lamb skewers cost 3 yuan each.
π½οΈ Best Budget Restaurants
Lao Xuanzhou Restaurant (No. 12, Qingnian Road) offers a full meal of local dishes for under 50 yuan per person, including their signature braised fish head. For a quick lunch, the Xuanzhou Noodle House (No. 45, Zhongshan Road) serves bowls starting at 12 yuan, with generous portions of meat and vegetables.
π² Mid-Range Dining Options
Jinxiu Garden Restaurant (No. 88, Huancheng East Road) specializes in Xuanzhou-style hotpot, with a broth made from local herbs and spices. A meal for two costs around 150 yuan, and they are open from 11 AM to 10 PM. Another solid choice is Xiangmanlou (No. 66, Yingbin Avenue), known for its braised pork ribs and steamed fish, with mains averaging 40 yuan.
π’ Evening Food Spots
The Xuanzhou Night Market on Zhongshan Road is the heart of the city's evening food scene, with dozens of stalls serving everything from grilled squid to sweet tofu pudding. For a sit-down dinner, try the rooftop terrace at Yueliang Restaurant (No. 100, Binjiang Road), which offers views of the river and a menu of grilled seafood and cold beer.
π₯ Breakfast Favorites
Start your day at the breakfast street on Jiefang Road, where vendors serve freshly made jianbing (savory crepes) for 6 yuan each. The steamed bun shop at No. 23, Renmin Road, offers pork buns and vegetable buns for 2 yuan each, perfect for a quick bite before exploring.
π΅ Tea and Snack Culture
Xuanzhou is known for its green tea, and the Tea House on Wenfeng Road (open 9 AM to 9 PM) offers tastings of local Xuanzhou tea for 20 yuan per person. Pair your tea with traditional snacks like sesame cakes and osmanthus jelly, available at the adjacent bakery for 5 yuan each.
π΅ Getting to Food Spots
Most food areas are within walking distance of the city center, but you can also rent an electric scooter for about 30 yuan per day from shops near the train station. Public buses (route 1, 2, and 5) connect major food streets, with fares of 2 yuan per ride. Taxis are affordable, with most trips within the city costing under 15 yuan.
honestly the guide nailed the main spots but i gotta shout out the tea house on Wenfeng Road, it's a great place to chill after eating too much street food. the owner let me try three different Xuanzhou teas for 20 yuan and even showed me how to brew them properly, took like an hour just chatting. also if you go on a weekday afternoon it's way quieter, the old guys playing mahjong in the back corner are entertaining to watch
yeah the guide is solid but they left out the best late night spot imo. there's a xiaolongbao place on Qingnian Road, like two blocks south of Lao Xuanzhou, no english sign just a red awning with yellow characters. they only do one thing and it's pork soup dumplings, 8 yuan for 8 pieces, and they're open til 2am. the broth is super rich and they give you fresh ginger vinegar on the side, way better than the frozen ones you get everywhere else
the guide's spot on about Lao Xuanzhou Restaurant but i'd actually skip the braised fish head and go for their stir-fried river shrimp instead, they're tiny and sweet, shell and all, only like 35 yuan a plate. also if youre at the night market try the grilled mantou from the stall right next to Auntie Li's dumplings, they brush it with lard and condensed milk, sounds weird but trust me it's the best 4 yuan you'll spend all night
Things to Do in Xuanzhou (2026)
Begin your visit at Jingting Mountain, a scenic area steeped in literary history. The mountain is famous for Li Bai's poem "Sitting Alone in Face of Peak Jingting," aβ¦ ποΈ Start at Jingting Mountain
Begin your visit at Jingting Mountain, a scenic area steeped in literary history. The mountain is famous for Li Bai's poem "Sitting Alone in Face of Peak Jingting," and you can hike the well-marked trails to the summit for panoramic views of the city. Admission is 60 RMB, and the park is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
π― Explore Xuanzhou Ancient City
The Ancient City area preserves traditional architecture and narrow lanes that date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Stroll along North Street and visit the Xuanzhou Museum, which houses artifacts from the region's long history. Entry to the museum is free, but it closes on Mondays.
ποΈ Visit the Xuan Paper Culture Village
Xuanzhou is the birthplace of Xuan paper, a UNESCO-recognized craft. At the Xuan Paper Culture Village, you can watch artisans make paper by hand and even try it yourself. The village is located at 88 Papermaking Road, and tickets cost 80 RMB. Allow at least two hours for the full experience.
π Taste Local Delicacies
Don't leave without trying Xuanzhou's signature dish, stinky mandarin fish, and the local bamboo shoot soup. Head to Lao Jie Food Street near the Ancient City for affordable street food stalls and family-run restaurants. Most dishes cost between 20 and 50 RMB, and the street is busiest from 5:00 PM onward.
π Getting Around Xuanzhou
Public buses cover most attractions, with fares starting at 2 RMB. For more flexibility, use ride-hailing apps like Didi, which are widely available and cost around 10-20 RMB for trips within the city center. Taxis are also easy to flag down, but agree on the meter before starting your ride.
π Best Evening Spots
As night falls, head to the Wanda Plaza area for a mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment. The plaza has a large food court and a cinema showing recent releases. For a quieter evening, walk along the Wanxi River promenade, where locals gather to chat and enjoy the cool breeze.
π‘ Insider Tips for 2026
In 2026, the city is upgrading its tourist information centers with digital kiosks offering free Wi-Fi and maps. Visit the main center at the train station for the latest event schedules. Also, download the local travel app "Xuanzhou Tour" for real-time bus tracking and discount coupons.
good guide, covers the basics well. if you're around on a sunday morning the antique market sets up along the canal near the ancient city, starts around 7am and wraps up by noon. i found a really nice old inkstone there for 30 RMB, the seller was an old guy who showed me how to test the quality by rubbing it with water
also for the bamboo shoot soup the best version is at a place called Xiao Wang's on Renmin Road, it's a tiny hole in the wall with like four tables but the broth is incredible, they use these local shoots that are only available in spring. just point at the picture on the wall if you can't read the menu
the digital kiosks at the train station are good for free wifi but the maps are in chinese only, grab a paper map from the info desk instead, they have an english version tucked under the counter
the guide's right about the museum being free but it's actually way better on weekday mornings when it's empty, i spent like two hours in there last month just staring at the old inkstones. also if you're near the paper village there's a tiny noodle shop on the corner of Papermaking and Huanshan called Lao Wang's that does a sesame paste noodle for 12 RMB, no sign in english just follow the smell
yeah the guide's pretty solid. one thing i'd add is that if you hike jingting mountain early enough like before 8am you can get in for free before the ticket booth opens, i did that last fall and had the whole summit to myself for like an hour. also the xuan paper village is cool but tbh the real gem is the little paper museum next to it that's free and has these ancient printing blocks you can stamp your own bookmark with, most tourists miss it