Xinjiang Stone Oven Naan

From the Xinjiang province, this traditional bread is made in a stone oven.

TravelCurious Tip

If you order a kebab, ask the vendor to heat up a naan while they’re at it. Then put the kebab in, fold the naan and take the stick out and you have a lamb burger!

Xinjiang is the westernmost province of China, a vast and barren but beautiful region of deserts and mountains. Pressed up against neighbouring countries like Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Kazakhstan, and once along the route of the ancient Silk Road, it is home to many ethnic minority groups, including the Turkic Uyghur people.


The Uyghurs are a Muslim Chinese people. They make up about half the population of Xinjiang which, although it is part of China, bears many Turkish and Central Asian characteristics. The Uyghurs have migrated to all regions of China in search of work, and many have opened restaurants, spreading Xinjiang’s cuisines and its non-Chinese influences across the country. Almost everywhere in China you can find Xinjiang lamb kabobs being roasted over coals, but perhaps even more ubiquitous is the Xinjiang naan, a flat disk of bread baked in a large stone oven, the inner wall of which is salted.


Uyghur food is very varied, but the naan is a mainstay. It is served with soups, kebabs, stews, and often by itself before the rest of the meal even reaches the table. Along with tea, it is a sort of ritualistic tradition — think tea and crumpets. Sometimes you get it for breakfast too, with kefir or yoghurt with raisins.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Shanghai
Xiao long bao
A type of steamed bun stuffed with meat and cooked in a bamboo steaming basket.
Sheng jian bao
Similar to the Xiao long bao, these dumplings are pan fried and dangerously delicious.
Xie ke huang
A pastry shaped like a crab shell. It is a speciality in the region and comes with a variety of fillings.
Chang shou mian
Handmade wheat noodles that have become a staple chinese food.
Stir fried bull frog
Ramp up the adventure with this popular local dish cooked in green peppers.
Deep fried Wonton
Delicious pork dumplings deep-fried and served with vinegar.

Related Tours

Private Walking Food Tour of Shanghai
Discover an array of fantastic tastes and flavours in Shanghai’s buzzing food scene on this delicious walking tour (with occasional use of public transport) around the city’s mouth-watering culinary map. On your private tour you will:

  • Enjoy the personalised and expert attention of your private guide.
  • Walk around the bustling food markets and kitchens of Shanghai.
  • Taste a huge selection of traditional, local dishes (be sure to arrive hungry!).
  • Sample a selection of dumplings - Xiao long bao and Sheng Jian Bao.
  • Try stir-fried bullfrog: Shanghai's four-legged answer to the buffalo wing. 
  • Taste the regional speciality: Xie Ke Huang (yellow crab).
  • Try delicious handmade Shanghai wheat noodles
  • Savour a selection of desserts for the grand finale - washed down with Huangjiu (local yellow wine)
  • Experience the local atmosphere of Shanghai and learn about its rich history of food and cultural identity from your expert local guide.
Food is powerful! Tasting the food of a city provides a fascinating insight into its ethnic diversity, history, character and gastronomic trends. In Shanghai, food is at the heart of everything and has been an integral part of its identity for 3,000 years. Many of the city’s most beloved traditional dishes trace the city’s storied history - all of which you'll learn from your expert private guide. 

On your private tour, you’ll get to try all of Shanghai’s most iconic dishes like braised eggplant, soft grilled oysters, juicy scallops, delicate mandarin fish, famous xiao long bao soup dumplings, hairy crab Nian Gao, and Di Shui Dong ribs that fall off the bone. Learn the secret ingredients behind the most popular recipes and hear the fascinating backstories to exciting taste combinations. You will visit buzzing kitchens, bustling food markets, and taste speciality dishes such as Xiao long bao (steamed pork dumplings), Sheng Jian bao (pan-fried dumplings), stir-fried bullfrog, Xie Ke Huang (crab-stuffed pastry), Chang Shou Mian (wheat noodles), deep-fried wonton and bread cooked in the Xinjiang stone accompanied by a glass of traditional yellow wine. Your gastronomic journey will come to an oh-so-sweet end with a sample range of Shanghainese desserts recommended by your expert guide. 
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