Food Allergies in China: How to Communicate Them Safely
Travelling to China with food allergies — how to write and use a translated allergy card, order safely, and handle an emergency when menus have no English.
Traveling in China with food allergies is doable, but it demands a system — a printed Chinese allergy card, careful restaurant choices, and your own medication. Here’s how to build it.
China is one of the most rewarding food destinations in the world, but its cooking relies on shared woks, oil, sauces and stock that can make allergy management genuinely tricky. Menus rarely list allergens, and English is patchy. The good news: the Chinese phrase for allergy — guomin (过敏) — is widely understood, and a well-made card does most of the work.
Your allergy card: the single most important item
Before you fly, have a card written in Chinese. It should say:
“我过敏，情况严重。请务必不要放：花生/花生油、虾、鱼、牛奶、鸡蛋、麸质/小麦。” “I have a serious food allergy. Please do not use: peanuts/peanut oil, shrimp, fish, milk, eggs, gluten/wheat.”
Swap the list for your own allergens. Print several copies and carry them in your wallet, phone case and bag. Show the card — point to it, then to your order. It works at restaurants, street stalls and hotels.
Key phrases to learn
- Wo dui … guomin (我对…过敏) — I’m allergic to …
- Bu yao fang … (不要放…) — please don’t add …
- Zhe ge li mian you mei you …? (这里面有没有…?) — does this contain …?
- Yan zhong guomin (严重过敏) — serious allergy.
- Hu sheng (花生) — peanut. Zhi ma (芝麻) — sesame. Xia (虾) — shrimp. Yu (鱼) — fish. Niu nai (牛奶) — milk. Ji dan (鸡蛋) — egg.
The hidden triggers to know about
- Peanut oil (huashengyou) — widely used for frying. Anything deep-fried needs verification.
- Sesame oil and sesame paste — common in dressings, noodles and sauces.
- Oyster sauce (hao you) — a glaze on many vegetable and noodle dishes.
- Dried shrimp powder (xia pi) — sneaks into fried rice, soups and sauces.
- Chicken stock (jigao) and chicken essence (jijing) — sprinkled into nearly everything.
- Lard (zhuyou) — used to cook greens in some regions.
- MSG (weijing) — a trigger for a small minority; say “bu yao fang weijing” if it affects you.
Ordering strategy
- Choose your restaurants carefully. Dedicated vegetarian (su cai guan) and temple restaurants are often the safest for cross-contact reasons — fewer shared animal ingredients. Upscale restaurants are more used to dietary requests. In smaller cities and rural areas, carry extra copies of your card and expect to explain more; big cities like Beijing and Shanghai have the most English and the most allergy-aware kitchens.
- Avoid buffets. Shared utensils, unlabeled dishes and cross-contact make them the highest-risk setting.
- Stick to simple, verified dishes. Steamed rice, plainly stir-fried vegetables (after confirming no lard or oyster sauce), and dishes you’ve watched being prepared.
- Use the card first, then ask. Present the card, then use a translation app to ask follow-up questions about the specific dish you want.
- Watch street food. It’s glorious, but it’s also the hardest to verify. Show your card; if the stall can’t reassure you, give it a miss.
What to bring
- Medication: your usual antihistamines and, if prescribed, your EpiPen — in a full set, with a doctor’s note explaining it.
- Copies of your allergy card: printed, laminated if possible, and also saved as photos on your phone.
- Travel insurance with emergency medical coverage, and your insurer’s 24-hour international assistance number saved on your phone.
- A translation app with camera mode for reading ingredient labels at supermarkets and pharmacies.
- A one-line emergency phrase: wo you yanzhong guomin, qing bang wo (I have a serious allergy, please help me) — paired with your card, it’s enough to start the right conversation.
- Keep your card with your medication, so that even if you can’t speak, a bystander or paramedic can read what’s wrong.
If something happens
- Dial 120 — China’s medical emergency number — and state your allergy and symptoms.
- Show your card — the Chinese text that explains your allergy will help even with a language barrier.
- Your hotel can help — in major cities, concierge desks can arrange an English-speaking doctor.
- Know the words: guomin (allergy), guomin fanying (allergic reaction), jiu ming (save/emergency).
The calm version of this advice
Thousands of people with food allergies travel to China every year and eat extremely well. The difference between them and a bad outcome is preparation: the card, the care, and the willingness to pass on anything unverified. Set up your payment apps and train tickets before you go so that on arrival, your only job is enjoying the food — safely.
Last updated: August 2026. Carry your own medication and always re-confirm your allergy card with a local speaker — confirm before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tell a restaurant about my allergy?
Show a printed Chinese allergy card — one that says you have a serious allergy and lists your triggers. Point to it, then to the menu. Most chefs will read it and avoid the ingredient; a card is far more reliable than speaking English. Carry several copies and show one before every meal, including street stalls.
Is a peanut allergy manageable in China?
It's challenging but manageable. Peanut oil is common in cooking and peanut flour can hide in sauces, so you need to be vigilant. Your card should state that peanut, peanut oil and peanut flour are all dangerous, and you should avoid anything fried you can't verify. Dedicated su (vegetarian) restaurants and upscale places that take allergies seriously are safer bets.
What are the hidden allergy triggers in Chinese food?
Beyond the obvious: sesame oil and sesame paste, oyster sauce, shrimp and dried shrimp powder in sauces and fried rice, chicken stock, lard, MSG (a trigger for a minority of people), and peanut oil used for frying. Buffets are risky because shared utensils and labeling gaps make cross-contact almost unavoidable.
Should I bring my own medication?
Yes. Bring your own antihistamines and, if you carry an EpiPen, a full set plus a doctor's note. Brand availability in China varies, and pharmacies can be hard to navigate with a language barrier. Store medication in your carry-on and keep the allergy card with it so medical staff understand quickly.
What if I have a reaction in China?
Dial 120 for an ambulance (the national medical emergency number) and state your allergy and symptoms. Show your card — the Chinese text asking for help and listing your allergy will help even if you can't speak Chinese. Travel insurance that covers emergency medical care is essential, and your hotel can arrange an English-speaking doctor in major cities.
Are common allergens labeled on menus?
Rarely. Chinese menus almost never list allergen information, and cross-contact in a busy kitchen is normal. Your safety system has to be active: the printed card, choosing careful restaurants, and asking questions rather than assuming. The more you rely on verification, the safer you'll be.