Biang biang noodles are Xi’an’s signature dish, wide, chewy ribbons of hand-pulled dough tossed with chilli oil, vinegar, garlic and vegetables, and this half-day class teaches you how to make them. The experience begins with a visit to a local market, where the guide explains the ingredients and spices that define Shaanxi cooking, and continues in a kitchen where you knead, stretch and slap the dough until it forms the long ribbons the dish is known for. Then comes the best part, cooking and eating your own creation. The atmosphere is relaxed and the class should suit beginners. With a score of 4.9 from dozens of reviews, it is a well-rated way to spend a morning and a good option when you want a break from monuments.
How to book
The class is offered as a half-day experience that includes a market visit, and the starting time and meeting point are shown at booking. Check whether recipes or extras are included, and mention dietary needs in advance, since wheat is central to the dish and substitutions can be limited.
What to expect
The guide leads a short walk through the market, pointing out chillies, spices, vinegars and vegetables, then moves to the kitchen for a demonstration. You will learn the dough, rest it, stretch it into wide strips and cook them, then dress them with sauce. The technique takes practice, and the results are rarely perfect, which is part of the fun. Expect to eat what you cook.
Making the most of it
Wear clothes that can handle a little flour and oil, bring a camera for the market and ask your guide for tips on where to eat other local dishes afterwards. It is a good activity early in a trip, when it can shape your choices on the street, and a good rainy-day plan.
November is cool, which makes a bowl of hot noodles all the better. The class suits adults and older children, and it makes a relaxed morning before an afternoon at the Bell and Drum Towers or the City Wall.
What to expect
The experience
A guided market visit followed by a hands-on cooking class in which you make and eat biang biang noodles.
Best time
A morning early in your trip, or on a rainy day.
How long
About half a day.
Tips
Mention dietary needs in advance, wear clothes that can take flour and oil, and ask the guide for restaurant tips.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Food lovers who want a hands-on lesson in Xi’an’s signature dish.
- Families
- Older children enjoy kneading and stretching the dough.
- Couples
- A fun, relaxed shared activity that ends with lunch.
- Pair with
- The Muslim Quarter food street for a second round.
- Time needed
- A half day.
Good questions
What are biang biang noodles?+
They are wide, hand-pulled noodles served with chilli oil, vinegar, garlic and vegetables. The dish is a signature of Xi’an and Shaanxi cooking.
Do I need cooking experience?+
The class should suit beginners, and the guide shows each step and helps with the dough.
Does the class include a market visit?+
Yes, the half-day experience begins with a visit to a local market. You will see the ingredients and spices used in Shaanxi cooking.
Can the class cater for dietary needs?+
Tell the organiser in advance. The dish is wheat-based, so gluten-free options are limited.
How long does it take?+
It is a half-day activity, including the market visit, the cooking and the meal. Check the start time when you book.
