Food Allergies & Special Diets

The allergy card that works

Write the card in Chinese and English, with the allergen in large characters and a clear “this is life-threatening” line. Show it to the server, then to the kitchen if possible. A useful template: “我对花生严重过敏，食用会危及生命。请确认所有菜品不含花生、花生油、花生酱，也不要使用同一锅具或同一锅油。谢谢。” Replace 花生 with 坚果 (tree nuts), 海鲜 (seafood), 虾 (shrimp), 蟹 (crab), 贝类 (shellfish), 牛奶 (dairy), 鸡蛋 (egg), 小麦/麸质 (wheat/gluten) or 大豆 (soy). For a child, add “孩子” and the child’s age.

• Print two copies: one for the table, one for the kitchen
• Use large font and a red border so it is not mistaken for a menu note
• Ask the server to repeat the request back to you
• If the kitchen looks confused, choose a simpler dish or another restaurant

Hidden ingredients to watch

Soy sauce (酱油) contains wheat and soy; oyster sauce (蚝油) contains shellfish; many stir-fries use peanut oil; “vegetable” dishes may be cooked with lard or meat stock; fried rice often contains egg; hotpot broth may contain seafood or bone stock; and “mild” dishes can still use chilli oil. Wheat appears in noodles, dumplings, baozi, pancakes and many sauces. Dairy is less common in traditional cooking but appears in desserts, milk tea and Western-style dishes. Ask about cooking oil and shared woks, not just the ingredients.

• Soy sauce: soy + wheat
• Oyster sauce: shellfish
• Peanut oil: common in stir-fries
• Lard/stock: in “vegetable” dishes
• Shared wok/oil: cross-contamination risk

Vegetarian and vegan

“Vegetarian” in China can mean “no visible meat” rather than no meat products. Buddhist restaurants (素食馆, sùshí guǎn) are the safest and often excellent; they avoid garlic and onion in some traditions, so check. Dedicated vegan cafes exist in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Hangzhou. Elsewhere, order plain rice or noodles with vegetables and explicitly ask for no meat, no meat stock, no lard and no oyster sauce: “不要肉，不要肉汤，不要猪油，不要蚝油。” Tofu dishes are a good staple, but confirm they are not cooked with minced pork.

Halal and kosher

Halal restaurants (清真, qīngzhēn) are common in areas with Muslim communities: Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter, Lanzhou, Linxia, Ningxia and Xinjiang. They serve beef and lamb noodles, kebabs and breads, and do not serve pork. Look for the green halal sign and ask whether the meat is halal-certified. Kosher food is much harder to find outside major cities and Hong Kong; contact a local Jewish community or bring supplies. Vegetarian and pescatarian diets are easier than strict kosher or halal in mainstream restaurants.

Gluten-free and other diets

Gluten-free is not widely understood. Rice noodles (米粉), rice dishes, plain steamed rice, some hotpot (with a clear broth) and fresh fruit are safer bets than wheat noodles, dumplings, baozi and fried dishes. Soy sauce contains wheat, so ask for dishes without soy sauce or bring gluten-free tamari. For low-FODMAP, diabetic or other medical diets, a Chinese-speaking dietitian or a hospital international department is more useful than a restaurant card. Do not assume “healthy” means free of sugar or oil.

If a reaction happens

For a severe allergy, carry two epinephrine auto-injectors if prescribed, plus an antihistamine and a doctor’s letter explaining the prescription. Keep them in hand luggage, not checked bags. Tell your travel companion and hotel where they are. For a reaction, use the auto-injector, call 120 and go to the nearest hospital; international departments in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu have English-speaking staff. Save the Chinese words for “allergic reaction” (过敏反应) and “anaphylaxis” (过敏性休克) on your phone. Travel insurance should cover emergency care and evacuation.