Xiaochao Food Street
Ping Xiang, Jiangxi
Local stir-fry (xiaochao) restaurants clustered in the city centre, serving fast, high-heat dishes built on fresh and dried chilies.
Why visit Xiaochao Food Street?
Pingxiang's long-running rivalry with Changsha and Chengdu over 'China's spiciest city' is best understood by actually eating here — the chili is layered into pickling, drying, and fermenting as much as fresh use.
How to experience it
Order a few small stir-fry dishes to share rather than one large plate, in the local style.
Tip
Ask for dishes 'less spicy' (少辣) if you're not used to Hunan/Jiangxi-level heat — the default is genuinely intense.