Le Le Harbor restaurant is very well-known among Shenyang locals for having fresh, top-quality seafood.  It's one of the highest-caliber restaurants in Shenyang, so it's not cheap, but if you like seafood, you can't go wrong here.   

 

 

The restaurant is located on the inner ring road (文化路 wén huà lù) near the north gate of Northeastern University (东北大学 dōng běi dà xué), and just to the east of Fang Xing Square (方形广场 fāng xíng guǎng chǎng).

The first floor of Maxiangxing (马祥兴) has a wide selection of Xiaochi, which means ’little snacks’. The offerings include several to which Nanjing locals feel the most municipal pride: fried dumplings, soup dumplings, steamed dumplings and what can be translated as “return to sauce tofu”. The twist at Maxiangxing is that the restaurant does not serve any pork. While virtually all varieties of dumpling in Nanjing contain pork by default, Maxiangxing’s dumplings are made with beef.

There are no menus with English translations or with pictures.

Besides the first floor, Maxiangxing also has 2 more floors, each one fancier and pricier than the next.

"Return to sauce tofu” is stir-fried once, then placed back in a broth in order to soak up extra flavor.

How to Get There:  Maxiangxing is located on Yunnan Bei Lu (云南北路) near Lion’s Bridge (狮子桥) and Little Fat Lamb (小肥羊, Xiao Fei Yang) hot pot restaurant. The Yunnan Bei Lu bus stop is also right next to Maxiangxing’s entrance.

Link:  More on Nanjing’s Xiaochi

This is not your average Cantonese banquet restaurant – this is Cantonese dining with elegance and flair. Sure there are the usual share-and-spin tables, the expected maze of private rooms, all supplied alongside great authentic Cantonese cuisine, but the difference here is the exceptional attention to detail and the grand decor. So grand in fact, that they often play host to local celebrities like Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh and co. Moody lighting and innovative interior decoration make this a real classy affair. Trippy space-like ceilings, plush golden curtains and the finest dining utensils make this one of the nicest Cantonese restaurants around. The service and the food are top-notch too. Oh, and with all the awards and accolades, this place has not only been voted as one of the nicest Cantonese restaurants in Hong Kong, but one of the nicest Cantonese restaurants in the world.         

Culture Club Website

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Reknown for being one of the more quirky and experimental galleries around town, the Culture Club Gallery is a place where young creativitiy runs free. Expect post-modern art installations, experimental music, artistic videos and unique statements expressed through art. There is even a monthly tango night.

How to get there: Cite Coffee is located right next to the Light Art Tunnel (灯光隧道) near Hunan Lu (湖南路).  The Light Art Tunnel is directly across from the north entrance of Lion's Bridge (狮子桥).  There are many buses that stop nearby and the Xuanwu Men subway station is only a 10 minute walk away on the east end of Hunan Lu.

Link: www.xddcoffee.com

Cafe Firenze serves Italian cuisine in the south end of Chengdu. It is just a few meters down from Zoe’s BBQ, and across the street from Gingko and the Western Tower. Expect to pay at least 40 Yuan per person at Cafe Firenze.

This place is a treat. Vegetarian food can be tough to find in Yangzhou, but this restaurant, recently opened in collaboration with the historic Da Ming Temple, serves an impressive assortment of dishes made completely without the use of animal products. Buddhist vegetarian cuisine is an entirely different style of Chinese fare, and the owners are more than happy to discuss the philosophy behind it. The cuisine is based on the Huai Yang School, and displays notably creativity. The restaurant also boasts very reasonable prices. Smaller dishes start around 5 Yuan and the more intricate, such as a large fake fish or ribs, go for about 30 Yuan. Another plus is each dish is pictured on the menu next to its description, which even includes a list of the exact ingredients. This restaurant is well worth a visit.

To find the restaurant head south on Yangzi Jiang Road (扬子江南路). Pass the Times Supermarket and then look to the northeast corner of the intersection with Wenhui East Road (文汇东路)