Lunch Above the Clouds in Shenzhen
Sometimes a culinary journey begins with an elevator.
After days spent at the Canton Fair, walking through enormous exhibition halls, attending meetings and covering countless kilometers, it was finally time for lunch.
At first, it was supposed to be just another meal.
Instead, it became one of those experiences you remember long after the trip is over.
At the top of Ping An Finance Centre in Shenzhen, where the city slowly disappears into clouds and mist, sits Altitudes Restaurant. Located inside one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world, it offers panoramic views that feel more like a movie scene than an ordinary business lunch.
Shenzhen disappearing beneath the clouds. The meal hadn’t started yet, but the experience already had.
The restaurant itself is calm, elegant and beautifully understated.
Natural wood, soft lighting and clean architectural lines create an atmosphere that feels worlds away from the busy streets below.
Today, Altitudes is known for its premium buffet featuring fresh seafood, lobster, foie gras, Chinese specialties, live cooking stations and dishes prepared to order.
Quiet luxury high above one of China’s most dynamic cities.
And what did I choose?
A steak.
Yes…
A steak in China.
After several days of exploring Asian cuisine, a perfectly grilled piece of beef felt surprisingly right. It wasn’t the most adventurous choice of the trip, but at that moment it was exactly what I wanted—simple, well prepared and served with a view that probably added half of the flavour.
Steak above the clouds. Not every meal in China has to be exotic.
But China has a wonderful habit.
It constantly reminds you that the true soul of its cuisine is rarely found on the highest floor.
Later that evening we wandered into a small local restaurant.
No famous name.
No breathtaking skyline.
No luxury interior.
Just a simple table, hot tea, bowls of rice, steaming dishes and the lively atmosphere of local families enjoying dinner together.
The food cost only a fraction of what we had paid earlier that day.
Yet, quite honestly, it tasted better than most Chinese restaurants I have visited across Europe.
A simple tea ritual—not a tourist attraction, just everyday Chinese hospitality.
The kind of meal that makes you stop analysing… and simply enjoy every bite.
And then there are those uniquely Chinese moments.
Menus that make Europeans pause for a second while quietly wondering,
“Can people actually order that?”
Scorpions.
Snake.
And plenty of other culinary adventures.
Some experiences only need to happen once—and they leave you with stories you’ll be telling for years.
In the end, however, one simple truth remains.
A luxury restaurant on top of a skyscraper shows you China’s ambition, confidence and modern skyline.
A small family restaurant hidden in an ordinary street shows you its heart.
Warm.
Lively.
Affordable.
Authentic.
And incredibly delicious.
The real magic of travelling isn’t choosing between luxury and simplicity.
It’s experiencing both.
That’s where the best stories are born.
Some cities are not meant to be seen.
They are meant to be experienced.
