Chinatodo
This "Water City of the North," embraced by Dongchang Lake (东昌湖 dōngchāng hú), hides not only the poetic charm of "a city within a lake, a lake within a city" but also preserves the fusion of northern and southern tastes from the canal era in its street food. The crackling of morning griddles, the aroma of smoked chickens at noon, the sizzle of night market fryers—here, eating is the most authentic way to explore the city.
The Breakfast Scene at Dawn
1. Shazhen Guāda (沙镇呱嗒 shā zhèn guā da)
—Liaocheng's "Chinese Croissant"
At six in the morning on Loubei Avenue (楼北大街 lóu běi dà jiē), the rhythmic slapping of dough against the counter is the locals' alarm clock. The master stretches the dough into long strips, spreads it with lard and minced meat, rolls it into a spiral, and presses it flat before frying. Freshly cooked, the guāda is golden and crispy, bursting with meaty steam at first bite—best paired with a bowl of Gaotang Lao Doufu (高唐老豆腐 gāo táng lǎo dòu fu), a savory northern-style tofu pudding drizzled with chili oil.
2. Yanggu Rou Xuan (阳谷肉旋 yáng gǔ ròu xuàn)
—A Flaky, Layered Meat Pie
Hidden deep in Douying Alley (豆营胡同 dòu yíng hú tòng), an old stove is always surrounded by customers waiting for the first batch. Minced donkey meat mixed with Sichuan pepper is folded into layers of dough and baked over charcoal until the crust shatters at the tap of a knife—a crispy symphony.
3. Wei’s Smoked Chicken (魏氏熏鸡 wèi shì xūn jī)
—600 Years of Heritage in Every Bite
On Dongguan Street (东关大街 dōng guān jiē), copper pots in old smokehouses puff fragrant clouds all day. Free-range young chickens are marinated with eight spices, including cardamom and nutmeg, then slow-smoked over applewood for six hours. Tearing into the meat reveals amber-hued fibers infused with a faint wine aroma—a preservation technique passed down from canal merchants.
4. Linqing Shaomai (临清烧麦 lín qīng shāo mài)
—Soup Dumplings That "Dance"
At a century-old shop near the mosque, the master rolls dough into translucent wrappers, pleating them into pomegranate-flower shapes. The lamb filling, encasing a gelatinized bone broth, jiggles when steamed. Poke a small hole to sip the broth first—or risk a scalded tongue!
5. Liuli Wánzi (琉璃丸子 liú li wán zi)
—"Crystal Gem" Party Snacks
When the night market at Tieta Shopping Center (铁塔商场 tiě tǎ shāng chǎng) lights up, a white-coated chef begins his sugar-pulling performance. Crispy glutinous rice balls are dipped in amber syrup, pulled into glossy threads, and cooled into glass-like shells. The first bite delivers a satisfying snap followed by a sesame explosion.
6. Shenxian Biqi Wánzi (莘县荸荠丸子 shēn xiàn bí qi wán zi)
—Sweet Surprise in a Fried Bite
At mobile stalls around Gulou Square (古楼广场 gǔ lóu guǎng chǎng), crowds gather around bubbling oil. Water chestnut bits mixed with meat are fried until golden, revealing a juicy, sweet crunch—a nod to the city’s Jiangnan influences.
A Day Trip to Liaocheng from Jinan: Discover the “Water City of the North”
