Beyond Jianbing: Exploring the Many Varieties of Chinese Bings

If you've lived in China for any length of time, odds are you've probably tried China's famous breakfast pancake, the jianbing (煎饼 jiānbǐng), before, but what about one of China's many other bings (饼 bǐng)? The word bing itself is used to refer to a broad variety of foods that can resemble anything from a pancake to a flatbread. Here we're going to take a look at some of the most famous variations, plus some different types of Chinese flatbread that fall into the bing-adjacent category. 

Shaobing (烧饼 shāobing)

Shaobing are a type of bread that are baked by pressing flattened dough onto the inner walls of a clay oven. The result is a golden flatbread that's crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. Often, shaobing is topped with sesame seeds and can be eaten plain, or it can be stuffed with an array of either sweet or savory fillings such as braised beef or red bean paste. 

Scallion Pancake (葱油饼 cōngyóubǐng)

Scallion pancakes, or congyoubing, are all about layers. Dough is rolled, brushed with oil, sprinkled with salt and scallions, then spiraled and pressed again before frying. When done right, the result is a crispy, yet chewy, golden wheel that's incredibly moreish. 

Shouzhuabing (手抓饼 shǒuzhuā bǐng)

Shouzhuabing literally means “hand-grab pancake” and is a popular street food originally from Taiwan and inspired by congyoubing. It's made from a dough that's rolled, oiled and folded to create thin flaky layers, and then it's pan-fried. Vendors typically brush it with sauces and fill it with ingredients like egg, lettuce, ham or spicy chicken and then fold it into a handheld wrap.

Spring Pancake (春饼 chūnbǐng)

You'll probably recognize spring pancakes, chunbing, as the soft, paper-thin pancakes commonly served with Peking duck. However, chunbing are also traditionally eaten during spring in northern homes to mark Lichun, the first of the 24 Chinese solar terms. When eaten for Lichun, they are normally stuffed with stir-fried vegetables, pork strips or tofu. Unlike most of the other bings on this list, chunbing aren't a street snack but more of a family-style meal, a kind of DIY wrap that's all about sharing and seasonality. 

Qiangbing (羌饼 qiāng bǐng)

A traditional breakfast bing from Shanghai, qiangbing is a leavened, thick pancake that's cooked on a griddle. Seasoned with scallions, it has a similar flavor profile to congyoubing and is also often studded with sesame seeds. Golden and slightly smoky, its chewy texture and nutty wheat aroma make it the perfect companion to vegetables and meat.

Jiangxiangbing (酱香饼 jiàngxiāngbǐng)

Jiangxiangbing is another popular street food, and its name literally means “sauce-fragrant pancake.” It's typically made with a dough that's rolled out and then brushed with a paste or sauce such as sweet bean or chili, then folded in layers and pan-fried until crispy. 

Baijimo (白吉馍 báijímó)

Baijiamo is essentially the bread that's used in the famous Shaanxi snack roujiamo (肉夹馍 ròujiāmó), often referred to as the “Chinese hamburger.” Baijiamo itself is a round yeasted flatbread that's crisp on the outside but soft inside,  it can be thought of as the Chinese cousin to the Mediterranean pita. Originally, it was baked in a clay oven, but nowadays it is often made in a frying pan instead.

Guokui (锅盔 guōkuī)

Originating in Shaanxi province, guokui is typically a large, round flatbread that's known for its crispy texture and durability. The name guokui literally means “pot helmet,” which is said to come from accounts of soldiers baking the dough inside their helmets placed over a fire. Along with the original Shaanxi version, there are many other versions of guokui, such as the Jingzhou style, which sees the bread stuffed with a variety of fillings like minced meat or bean paste.

Nang (馕 náng)

The Xinjiang version of naan bread, nang, is a staple in China's northwest region. The dough is traditionally sprinkled with sesame or cumin and slapped onto the scorching interior of a tandoor oven. It's most commonly eaten with lamb stew, yogurt or simply on its own.

Next time you're looking to get your bing fix, why not go outside your comfort zone and order a different kind of bing rather than the go-to jianbing? 

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Images: Canva, Meituan Waimai