Are you planning a trip along China’s ancient Silk Road? Then you can’t miss the food in Gansu! In this article, we’ll guide you through the must-try foods in Gansu’s top travel cities — Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, and Tianshui. Whether you’re exploring night markets or stopping at a roadside stall, these dishes will add flavor to your Silk Road journey. From hand-pulled noodles in Lanzhou to lamb skewers in Jiayuguan, Gansu’s street food is full of bold flavors, local traditions, and unique dishes you won’t find anywhere else.
Lanzhou Must-Try Foods
Lanzhou Beef Noodles (牛肉拉面)
This is the most famous dish in Gansu — and across China! The noodles are hand-pulled and served in a hot, clear beef broth with slices of beef, chili oil, garlic, and fresh herbs. Locals eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
Ràng Pí(酿皮)
A refreshing counterpoint to the hot noodle soup, Ràng Pí is a popular cold noodle dish. Made from wheat flour or mung bean starch, these chewy, slippery noodles are served cool, typically drenched in a tangy and savory sauce of vinegar, soy sauce, chili oil, mustard, and mashed garlic. It’s the perfect snack on a warm day, readily available from street vendors.
Jiangshui Noodles (浆水面)
These noodles are made with fermented vegetable soup. The sour and tangy taste is unique and perfect for a hot day.
Hand-Grasped Lamb (手抓羊肉)
A quintessential Gansu dish with strong Hui and Tibetan influences. Large chunks of mutton (often ribs or leg) are simply boiled with minimal seasoning like ginger and green onions. The tender meat is served on the bone and eaten by hand (hence the name), usually accompanied by salt, cumin powder, or a garlic dipping sauce. It highlights the natural flavor of the high-quality local lamb.
Zhangye Must-Try Foods
Saozi Noodles (张掖臊面)
This is a noodle dish with diced meat, tofu, vegetables, and vinegar-based soup. It’s sour, savory, and full of bite-sized surprises in every spoonful.
Chicken with Dough Roll (卷子鸡)
This dish includes stewed chicken served with steamed wheat rolls (juanzi). Dip the roll into the soup for a tasty combo.
Beef Rice (牛肉小饭)
A local favorite: steamed rice topped with tender beef, vegetables, and savory sauce. It’s simple but full of flavor.
Jiayuguan Must-Try Foods
Grilled Lamb Skewers (烤肉)
A ubiquitous and beloved street food. Chunks of lamb, often interspersed with fat for extra flavor, are marinated in cumin, chili powder, and other spices, then grilled over charcoal fires. The smoky aroma fills the night air around markets and stalls. Enjoy them hot off the grill, perhaps paired with a local Jiayuguan Black Beer.
Grilled Shell Buns (烧壳子)
A traditional wheat-flour bread historically baked using the residual heat of desert sands. Modern versions are baked in ovens, resulting in a slightly sweet, dense bread with a crispy crust, often enjoyed as a simple snack.
Sour and Spicy Lamb Tripe (酸辣羊肚)
Thin slices of lamb tripe stir-fried with chili and vinegar. It’s spicy, chewy, and loved by adventurous eaters.
Dunhuang Must-Try Foods
Mutton Soup Noodles (羊肉粉汤)
Rice noodles in a rich lamb broth with slices of tender meat and pickled vegetables. It’s warming and satisfying after a desert tour.
Grilled Lamb Chops (烤羊排)
Thick lamb ribs seasoned with cumin and spices, grilled until crispy outside and juicy inside. A perfect meal after visiting the Mogao Caves.
Donkey Meat Yellow Noodles (驴肉黄面)
A true Dunhuang specialty. Springy, yellow-colored noodles (often dyed naturally with ingredients like sea buckthorn) are served with tender, savory braised donkey meat. While perhaps unusual to some visitors, donkey meat is a prized local delicacy known for its leanness and flavor.
Tianshui Must-Try Foods
Tianshui Malatang (天水麻辣烫)
This is a local street food classic. Choose your own ingredients—vegetables, tofu, meat skewers—and they’re cooked in a spicy, numbing broth.
Tianshui Guagua (天水呱呱)
A truly ancient snack, said to date back thousands of years. Made from buckwheat or wheat starch, Guagua is a type of jelly-like cake that is broken into small pieces and dressed with a potent mixture of chili oil, sesame paste, garlic, vinegar, and soy sauce. It has a unique texture – slightly resistant yet yielding – and a bold, spicy, savory flavor profile.
