Survive Yunnan, China from a Chinese Muslim’s POV
Hi everyone!! Thank you for taking your time to read this post. I am a Singaporean Chinese Muslim and this is my THIRD trip to Yunnan China. I hope that this will help you with your upcoming/future travels. Feel free to reach out for more tips!
I did a 7 days free and easy holiday to Yunnan, China. It is located in the South West region of China. I went to Kunming, Lijiang and Shangri-la. There are many Muslims there so do not worry about having access to halal food. The main food source for meat is beef/yak, not much chicken though. As you go to higher altitude areas like Shangri-la, do eat more red meat as the air is thinner which means you are getting lesser oxygen. Try yak meat (牦牛肉 - máo níu ròu) as it is so good 🤤!! Miss it. Better and more nutritious than beef as they live on mountains which they will have easy access to herbs (indirectly we are gaining the nutrients too).
Halal food in Chinese is called 清真 (qīng zhēn). They don’t really use a halal logo like in Singapore so just look out for this word when buying food products. One trick that my father taught me when we go to a foreign country, especially one that we do not speak the local language, is to find a mosque. There will definitely be halal food nearby or at least someone to ask. Mosque in Chinese is called 清真寺（qīng zhēn sì）, you can type this word on the navigation app and it will show you the mosques nearby. You can do it for halal food too by typing 清真餐厅 （qīng zhēn cān tīng) I personally use amap (see pg6) and it is so helpful!! They even show you the reviews of the place. You can type in English but of course the best results would be to type in Chinese.
I stayed at Latosol Hotel in Kunming whereby it is walking distance to a lot of halal stalls (see pg4) and even shopping areas. Honestly, I didn’t look much into the surrounding except that it is near Kunming Station, a major train station to take train to Lijiang and Shangri-la. I saw how aesthetic it was and I was SOLD. It is nice and clean but the view is not the greatest. If you are not picky about it, then it will work fine! Nearby there is this shop that sells halal freshly baked Fresh Flower Biscuit 🌸 (鲜花饼，see pg7) just 50m away hahahaha. Lucky me!! Bought 4 boxes of it to give away as souvenirs. Shelf life is about 3 months if I remember correctly. Original and Matcha one is good but would not recommend the buckwheat one though. Just didn’t like how the “crust” tastes and look lol. Remember to request for the halal ones as they sell the non-halal ones too!!!
As shown in Pg5, these are the apps I used for the trip. Everywhere in China is about the cashless life so do download Alipay and WeChat. I use Alipay most of the time as my WeChat pay had some issues. Super easy to use, just add a card and you are ready to use. Usually you will scan the merchant’s QR code to make payment but there will be times whereby you will have to let them scan your QR code for payment. I also use it to get a Didi ride (SG version of Grab) you don’t have to get the Didi app separately. I only use WeChat for communication with my tour drivers or do bookings for the trip. Don’t worry if they text you as there is a translation feature in it!! LOVE IT
Pg6 is about some souvenirs that you can consider getting for your friends and families. Do note that the hand cream and perfume are both from Lijiang. They have multiple outlets. Got mine from the Lijiang Ancient Town (丽江古城 - lì jiāng gǔ chéng) outlet. They have one every few hundred metres😂😂😂 one thing interesting about them is that they use flowers native to Yunnan making it a great gift!! Pg 7 is also another place to get cute souvenirs. Apart from magnets and keychains, they even have post cards and puzzles. They even have a service to mail a letter to the future. Super cute 🥵
Pg8 last but not least, introducing to you, YAK MILK TEA** *screaming in chinese* i can’t emphasise HOW GOOD IT IS!!!!!! I feel that it is better than normal milk tea. They have different flavours to choose from as well! It is so FRESH and the tea flavours is just amazing.
** FYI, this is not halal certified so do consume at own discretion. I am not particular about dairy products so to each its own.
There are many halal restaurants out there. If you need some recommendations, feel free to dm me and I will provide some. FOC!!! Hope you find this post helpful and that you will enjoy the trip as much as I did💕💕💕
When traveling to Yunnan as a Muslim, understanding local customs and practical travel tips can make your journey smoother and more enjoyable. Since Yunnan is home to many ethnic minorities, including a sizable Muslim population, the cultural diversity offers enriching experiences beyond just food. Apart from finding halal meals, visitors can explore the intricacies of Yunnan’s Muslim communities and their traditions. A handy tip is to familiarize yourself with key Chinese terms such as 清真 (qīng zhēn) to identify halal food and 清真寺 (qīng zhēn sì) for mosques, which helps in locating Muslim-friendly spots using navigation apps like amap. From my experience, amap is extremely helpful, showing user reviews and locations for halal restaurants and prayer facilities. Also, carrying a translation app will ease any language barriers. Payment methods in China are mainly cashless. I found Alipay particularly convenient for everything from street food stalls to taxi rides via Didi. Setting these up before your trip, and linking an international credit card if possible, saves stress on arrival. As for souvenirs, don’t miss out on fresh flower biscuits and locally made hand creams or perfumes that feature native Yunnan flowers. These make memorable gifts reflecting the region’s natural beauty. Plus, unique items like postcards and puzzles found in Lijiang Ancient Town add a personal touch. Lastly, while yak milk tea is a local delicacy worth trying, be mindful that it may not be halal certified, so consume according to your preference. Overall, Yunnan offers a welcoming environment for Muslim travelers with plentiful halal options and cultural richness that makes each visit unique and rewarding.
hi, do you mind sharing with me the hotels u stayed in and all the halal places :)