How to avoid starving to death in China!?

I'd been warned, of course, that the food in China would be unusual. But I couldn't even imagine it being this bad. As someone accustomed only to Russian and European cuisine, I was terrified the entire trip and dreamed of simple, human-style potatoes and herring. Now, let's take things one step at a time. I'll start with the hotel breakfasts (I stayed in three cities, and, accordingly, three different hotels). For me, the Chinese food there was the most decent. At least there was a choice at the buffet, and among the disgusting fare, you could find something more or less decent, like a boiled egg, an omelet, a flat bun, and fruit. It wasn't the height of culinary art, but it was livable. I didn't encounter anything on the streets except street food. And for me, it was simply disgusting, as it's prepared in less-than-clean conditions, with who knows what ingredients, and a ton of unappetizing spices. Instant noodles, dumplings with unknown fillings, and kebabs on sticks are everywhere. To avoid being a rant, I tried this food a couple of times. But thoughts of unsanitary conditions and food poisoning haunted me. And most importantly, for me, it was all extremely tasteless. I also want to pay attention to the drinks. I fell into a trap several times. The drinks looked like juice, but in reality, they were pure, disgusting powder dissolved in water. What saved me? As funny as it sounds, McDonald's and Pizza Hut became this oasis of calm. Both had their share of Chinese gimmicks, like potato ice cream or sausages with corn on the pizza. But overall, the food was okay. Special respect to the local coffee shop chain Luckin Coffee. Coffee with orange juice, sorrel lemonade, and much more are very reasonably priced, around 14-16 yuan for a medium glass. I recommend trying all the drinks there; you'll be satisfied! So what's the bottom line? If you're as squeamish and unenthusiastic about unfamiliar food as I am, then my advice is to research and explore the places you can eat in advance. Unfortunately, I didn't do this and deeply regretted it. For me, China is about emotions, not gastronomic delights, so I didn't expect much from their cuisine. And this didn't affect the overall impression of the trip. Believe me, you'll see so much beauty that everything else will fade into the background. In any case, China is a must-see! #ChineseFood #China #Shanghai #Beijing