12-05-2025
Why Shunde in China's south is a Cantonese food heaven, with delicious dishes that amaze
Shunde is a wonderful place to go if you like to eat.
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Often hailed as the birthplace of Cantonese cuisine, the Unesco-designated City of Gastronomy in southern China's Pearl River Delta is a culinary paradise and a training ground for many top Chinese chefs.
Shunde – spelled Shun Tak in Cantonese – is officially a district of Foshan city but is administered independently and widely considered by locals as a separate city.
It is relatively lush and green for such a thriving area in the delta, having mostly resisted the urge to give up its agricultural plains for factories. Add to this its world-class culinary reputation and it is puzzling why it is not a bigger tourist draw, often overshadowed by larger nearby cities such as Zhongshan, Foshan and Dongguan.
Hua Gai Li Street in Shunde is a popular strip lined with snack shops, eateries, tea cafes and dessert parlours. Photo: Andrew Sun
I recently visited Shunde for the first time, which I did through Min Yuen Tong, one of Hong Kong's oldest clan associations for people of Shunde heritage. Due to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2026, its mission is to promote welfare, education and charity back in its hometown.
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