Zhuhai night market guide: Chinese skewers 串, spicy cumin seasoning, and refreshing lemon tea 柠檬茶 from real photos
1. Chinese Street Skewers: 串 (chuàn)
China is a country where skewers are a staple of the street food culture, especially in its well-developed night markets. From lamb to beef and chicken, almost any meat can be threaded onto a stick and grilled to perfection. You can find everything from easy-to-eat snacks to more adventurous options that might be an acquired taste.
In China, these skewer dishes are called 串 (chuàn). If you put lamb on the stick, it is called 羊肉串 (yáng ròu chuàn); if it is beef, it is 牛肉串 (niú ròu chuàn).
When you explore the countless stalls at a night market, you will see an incredible variety. Among them, lamb skewers are particularly famous, especially those from the Northeast and the Xinjiang region.
While the combination of Chinese-style skewers and Tsingtao beer has become popular in Korea, in China, you can pair them with a wide array of local beers such as Harbin (Hapi), Snow (Xuehua), or Wusu.
2. Photos of Chinese Street Skewers
I personally love Chinese night markets because they offer the perfect environment to enjoy various skewers with a light beer.
Prices generally range from 5 to 15 yuan, though you can find vegetable skewers for as little as 2 to 5 yuan.
I am a big fan of Xinjiang-style lamb skewers, but I also enjoy leek skewers and chicken skewers. They offer a different vibe compared to what you might find in Korea.
The grilled chicken wings 鸡翅 (jī chì) shown in the photo are also delicious. China is known for using almost every part of the animal, so you will encounter a much wider variety of skewers than in Korea.
While this means more choices, it also means some items might be polarizing for some people.
Furthermore, Chinese seasonings tend to be very strong. They often use plenty of cilantro 香菜 (xiāng cài) and powerful spices like cumin 孜然 (zī rán).
If you aren't used to these bold flavors, it can be a bit overwhelming, but for many, it is what makes the food so addictive
The beef skewer 牛肉串 (niú ròu chuàn) in the photo had a lovely appearance with the vegetables, though it felt a bit pricey at the time.
Even though the price was a little high, the taste was quite good. If you ever visit, I highly recommend sticking with the classic lamb skewers as well.
3. Lemon Tea in China: 柠檬茶 (níng méng chá)
Even though iced americanos are becoming more common in China these days, tea remains the most popular choice.
Among the many options, lemon tea 柠檬茶 (níng méng chá) is a fantastic way to enjoy something light and refreshing. It has a signature tartness that is both clean and sweet
Lemon tea pairs perfectly with skewers and other street foods.
While it used to be common for people in China to drink tea hot—even in the middle of summer—iced versions with plenty of lemon and ice are now very easy to find and widely enjoyed.
It was a pleasure looking through your photos from Zhuhai 珠海 (zhū hǎi). Those memories of skewers and lemon tea really capture the essence of a Chinese summer night.
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