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Halal, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy management — what university canteens actually offer.
Halal food
Most large Chinese universities operate a dedicated halal canteen or halal counter, and cities including Xi'an, Lanzhou, Yinchuan, Urumqi, Beijing, Guangzhou and Zhengzhou have substantial Hui Muslim populations and extensive halal restaurant provision. Xi'an's Muslim Quarter, Guangzhou's Xiaobei district and Beijing's Niujie are the best-known examples.
Applicants who require halal food should confirm directly with the target university's international office rather than relying on the general guide pages, because provision varies significantly between universities in the same city.
Vegetarian and vegan
Vegetarianism is less common in China than in Europe or India, and "vegetarian" food frequently contains meat stock or lard. The phrases that work are 我吃素 (I eat vegetarian) and specifically asking whether a dish contains meat, eggs or animal fat. Buddhist restaurants, which are strictly vegetarian, exist in most large cities and are excellent.
In practice, vegetarian students report eating a lot of tofu, vegetable dishes, noodles and rice, and cooking for themselves. University canteens usually have a vegetable section, but you need to ask about the cooking oil and stock.
Allergies and gluten
China has no standardised allergen labelling equivalent to the EU system, and serious allergies — particularly peanut and shellfish — require a written explanation in Chinese that you can show restaurant staff, plus a supply of your own medication.
Gluten-free eating is possible but demanding, because wheat, soy sauce and vinegar are pervasive. Rice-noodle cuisines in the south, and hotpot, are the most manageable options. Students with coeliac disease generally report cooking for themselves as the only reliable approach.