Why this is the most honest food list on the internet
A hotel buffet in China is a fine idea, but skip it and you'll find breakfast that's better, cheaper, and far more character. Here are the six I keep coming back to, roughly in the order of "do this first."
The six, from easiest to most special
Youtiao + doujiang (¥3–5)
The national classic. Fried dough sticks with warm soy milk, best 7–8 a.m. before the shop runs out. Every city has it; Chengdu's are the biggest.
Zhengzhou-style huangmen guo — no, wait: hui guo (¥5–8)
The wheat-thick porridge with a handful of veggies and a spoon of chili oil. It looks humble; it's the single most satisfying "real" breakfast I've had in China. The chili oil is optional but I add it.
Shaobing + scallion oil noodles (¥4–7)
A scallion flatbread with a small bowl of noodles. Fast, carb-dense, a good answer to "I'm in a hurry." Most stalls do it in 90 seconds.
Yam porridge + liangpi (¥6–10)
Sweet yam congee on the side, rice noodles topped with peanut and chili. The sweet-and-salty balance is the whole point. Try it once and you'll want it every morning.
Dim sum (¥25–40)
Small steamed buns, prawns, and meat buns, on a plate, at a tea house. Do it on a weekend when you have 2 hours — this is a meal, not a snack.
Regional classic of the day (¥10–20)
Whatever the city is famous for: Chengdu's chao fen (rice noodles with chili and meat), Wuhan's regan mian (noodles in pork broth), Guangzhou's congee with toppings. Look up "what does [city] eat for breakfast" before you land and order it once.
The one habit that makes breakfast a better experience
Eat at 6:30–8 a.m., in a small shop, not a mall. By 10 a.m. the good stalls have started to slow down, the best items run out, and you're in a line behind tourists. The 7 a.m. breakfast is the most Chinese hour of your trip; you won't find it in a guide, and you won't get it back at 11.
Skip the buffet. Grab a ¥5 youtiao + soy milk on your way to a museum, and you'll have an image of China the hotel version never gives you.