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We've compiled the best of the best in Beijing to Shanghai - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Shelled river shrimp (wumen xiaren) are a light and delicate signature dish at this lovely restaurant, accessed via a narrow alley north of Lion's Grove Garden. The busy kitchen also pulls off a crisp rendition of the region's famous songshu guiyu (squirrel fish), scored and fried so that the white meat fans outward in chopstick-friendly mouthfuls; sweet-and-sour sauce completes the experience.
A market-fresh spread of seafood, meats, and vegetables greets you at the entrance of this excellent eatery, a hit with well-heeled locals. Browse the live seafood (a small lobster, freshly steamed, will set you back about Y240), point at the dishes you want to try, and take your seat.
Inside the posh Marina City Mall beside the Olympic Sailing Center, Din Tai Fung serves up its brand of precisely pleated dumplings to CBD execs and tourists staying at the InterCon nearby. The xiaolongbao dumplings from this renowned Taiwanese brand contain delicate fillings and scalding soup—the perfectly steamed crab dumplings pair well with the ocean view.
On the grounds of the Kiessling Beidaihe Hotel, this popular restaurant, originally opened by Austrians, mixes a few Western dishes in with the menu's predominately Chinese fare. Its European-style café-bakery, on the main street, does a brisk business in freshly baked walnut cakes.
