Food

Wuhan is a major transportation hub, one which connects both northern and southern China. The dishes in Wuhan are a unique combination of northern and southern culinary styles. A lot of Wuhan's specialties are snacks, particularly late-night snacks; these emerged with the dock culture, which came about as the city's transport-related commerce developed. The taste of the local dishes is simple yet strong, much like the character of the local people.

In Wuhan, having breakfast or "guo zao", as it is said in the local dialect, is the first step towards fully experiencing Wuhan's culinary treats. The expression "guo zao" first appeared in the poem "Hankou Bamboo" in 1850, during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. Since ancient times, Wuhan has stood out among other cities because of its commercial prosperity. The people of this city had to rush to the markets early in the morning, so they had no time to prepare breakfast at home. People started eating at small stalls set up along the street; that tradition still remains today.

Eating breakfast in Wuhan is convenient, and there are many options for people to choose from. Fried bread sticks (you tiao), fried rice buns (mian wo), steamed dumplings with or without minced meat, bean pies (dou pi), hot-and-dry noodles, rice noodles with beef, sautéed noodles with minced meat (zha jiang mian), bean stripes (dou si), wontons, and sweet dumplings (tang yuan) are just a few of the great breakfast snacks available in Wuhan. It is no exaggeration to say that you could go for one month without repeating the same breakfast snack.

Hot-and-dry noodle, known as the "king of the breakfast snacks," is a must for visitors. Mr. Wang Yongzhong, the owner of a century-old restaurant that sells hot-and-dry noodles, once said, "Fine and smooth in taste but rough and dark in appearance, hot-and-dry noodles, better than any other dish, represents the city of Wuhan, its people, and its culture." In France, many Chinese exchange students are from Wuhan. To meet the demand, authentic hot-and-dry noodles are exported to France to be sold at Chinese restaurants in Paris.

Hubei has long enjoyed a reputation as "the province of a thousand lakes" and "the land of fish and rice." Wuhan, Hubei's capital city, produces excellent aquatic products. It is not uncommon to see such products made into delicious dishes, such as steamed Wuchang fish, Mianyang steamed dishes, pork rib and lotus root soup, fish balls, and braised turtle. These are just a few Wuhan specialty dishes.

Braised crawfish

Braised crawfish is extremely popular at local restaurants. Braised crawfish, because of its vibrant color, aroma, tenderness, and semi-sweet flavor, is the most classical crawfish dish and has long been a part of life for the locals. For this reason, it is common to see long lines of people waiting outside of local crawfish restaurants.

Crawfish were first introduced to the Jianghan Plain in Hubei in the early 1960s. They were used to eradicate oncomelania (host to schistosome); they played a role in the fight against schistosomiasis. Because they have strong reproduction abilities, the number of crawfish in Hubei has increased significantly.

It was not until the late 1990s that eating crawfish became popular. Although this dish is not uncommon in other countries, it was not until Mr. Li's Braised Crawfish Restaurant in Qianjiang, Hubei, began serving braised crawfish that it became popular. The small restaurant is located on 5·7 Avenue, Zhouji Town; the name of the restaurant's signature dish is "5·7 oil-braised crawfish." Every year, between May and September, the restaurant is packed with locals placing large orders for "5·7 crawfish." People even travel from other cities to enjoy the crawfish at this restaurant.

Wuhan Duck Neck

Duck neck is a famous delicacy which combines Sichuan-style chili with duck. The snack food with some ice-cold beer is a perfect combination for football fans watching late night games.

Bean Pies

Bean pies are a kind of typical breakfast food in Wuhan, fried with ingredients such as egg, meat, glutinous rice, mushrooms and shallots. The bean pies sold in Laotongcheng (老通城) are really popular among local residents.

Hot and Dry Noodles

The hot and dry noodles dish is considered to be the top snack food in Wuhan, although if you find them too dry you can always ask for soup to be added.

Visitors can find the dish everywhere in Wuhan. Cailingji (蔡林记), a local chain restaurant, is particularly recommended.

3 great spots for late night dining in Wuhan

In Wuhan, beer, barbecue, seafood, and sidewalk snacks are common sights for late night snacking. Here are three areas famous for delicious late night snacks.

Wansongyuan (万松园)

Crayfish is the first choice for a nighttime snack in summer. There are hundreds of restaurants scattered across Wansongyuan. Because of its high concentration of crayfish restaurants, it is Wuhan's crayfish center. Here, it is not uncommon to see people waiting in line outside at 1 am.

If you are not a fan of spicy braised crayfish, you can try the sweet steamed ones instead. Steaming crayfish helps preserve the original flavors; it usually served with a special homemade sauce. Steamed crayfish is fresh and juicy.

If crayfish alone is not satisfying enough or if you simply don't care for crayfish, Wansongyuan offers a diverse collection of restaurants filled with a rich variety of dishes and snacks. Here, you can try juicy soup dumplings, pan-fried pork, stuffed buns, light casserole congee, and much more. You can also try snacks like crispy pizza, mango and durian desserts and drinks, and Korean hotpot in this area. There is something for everyone at Wansongyuan.

Places around CCNU (华中师范大学周边)

CCNU is surrounded by great places filled with local delicacies and snacks capable of satisfying any late night craving. Between Jiedaokou (West Gate) and Guangbutun (North Gate), there are many places to eat. There are also many places to buy snacks near Huquan (East Gate).

For diners who are particular about their surroundings, Creativity City and Chicony, two shopping complexes located near Jiedaokou (街道口), are good choices. The bright and clean restaurants are air-conditioned, and they offer a variety of choices. You can enjoy Korean, Japanese, French, Indian, Thai, and American food. There are also restaurants offering Sichuan, Guangzhou, and Hunan cuisine.

A large collection of affordable restaurants can be found on Culture Street (华师文化街), a little shopping area near CCNU's West Gate. This area is home to both Chinese and foreign restaurants, making it popular with both Chinese and international students. The Chinese students tend to order dishes like grilled fish and hotpot; international students like Japanese curry, kebabs, pizza, and other foreign dishes. At the bars and pubs, people can enjoy imported beers and live music. In order to better serve students, who have rather irregular schedules, many of the restaurants are open late.

Huquan (虎泉夜市) is another place that is popular with students. Fresh, grilled seafood, such as fish, prawns, scallops, and oysters, sell very well. Fruit stands selling watermelons, mangos, pineapples, and other kinds of fruit can be seen scattered about.

Yanjiang Avenue (沿江大道)

Many younger residents enjoy spending their nights in Bounded Cubic Creativity Park (界立方), a park created from five repurposed factory buildings located on Hezuo Road. This park was built on the former site of the Russian Asiatic Trading Co. Ltd. (新泰洋行). The ancient brick walls, doorways, and wooden beams have all been preserved. There are more than a dozen restaurants in this area; they offer French food, pizza, baked goods, hotpot meals, barbecue, and casseroles. Most of the restaurants here are not chain restaurants; therefore, they cannot be found anywhere else in Wuhan or China. There is a water bar which sells mineral water and purified water from around the world. It is very popular among people who like to collect bottles. There are also film studios, tea houses, pubs, and music bars in the park. And, if you walk over to Yanjiang Avenue by way of Hezuo Road, you can feel the cool breeze coming off the river. Also, you can find a pub or a café and spend your time with family and friends there.