Vegan in Quarantine
China has maintained one of the strictest quarantine regimes in the world. While regulations are subject to change depending on the number of local cases, as of the date of this post, every person entering Mainland China can expect to be subject to a minimum 21-day hotel quarantine. Yep, you read that right! That’s what a zero-tolerance Covid policy looks like folks.
Being isolated in a hotel room for several weeks is enough to make anybody nervous, but what if you also happen to be vegan? Do China quarantine hotels accommodate a plant-based diet, or will vegans have to choose between their values and starvation?
I interviewed 10 vegans who underwent quarantine in various parts of China including Inner Mongolia, Shanghai, Fujian and Guangzhou, two were Chinese nationals and eight were foreigners to China. Their experiences vary greatly - some hotels were extremely accommodating to vegans, and others not so much. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to choose your quarantine hotel, so I cannot give any specific accomodation recommendations - but at the very least this article will give you some insight into some of the possible scenarios you could be met with.
Arrival in China
The arrival process at the airport is overall pretty consistent. After disembarking the aircraft, checking documents, and taking temperatures, you will be led to board a bus. To prevent people from trying to choose their hotel, you won’t know where the bus is taking you until you depart, and depending on the number of people, the buses may not be headed to the same hotels.
Your accommodation is paid in full once you arrive. Usually you’ll be given some choice for the room and a range of costs. Expect to pay between 300RMB-600RMB per night, not including food. Foreigners to China can expect a hotel of at least 3 stars because Chinese law requires hotels to be licensed to house non-Chinese nationals, so lower-rated establishments tend not to apply.
After you check-in, you will be added to a WeChat group with the hotel staff and/or other quarantine “guests”. This will be the main way you will be able to communicate your needs. If you don’t speak Chinese, that’s alright since Wechat has a built-in translation function. During quarantine, you will not be able to leave the hotel for any reason and will be required to take regular Covid tests during your stay (typically 1-2 tests per week), as well as daily temperature checks.
Ok, so now I’m in quarantine. What’s on the menu?
Here are the possible food options/situations available during hotel quarantine in China:
1. A fixed meal plan.
Pay for your hotel meals in advance for a reduced price. This plan offers three meals a day, but you’re at the whim of the kitchen (Translation: meat and animal products are likely gonna end up in your meal). Some hotels may be able to provide a vegetarian meal plan, but according to the people I interviewed, you’re almost guaranteed for “mistakes” to happen. Below are some examples of vegetarian meals provided by a hotel in Shanghai.
2. Order À La Carte.
Order as many or as few dishes as you want from the hotel menu at the regular hotel price. Expect to see many typical Chinese dishes, but don’t expect there to be many vegan options. You may be able to ask for some of the dishes to be veganized over Wechat when you order. In China, many vegetable dishes contain meat and/or lard, so be sure to specify those ingredients be removed.
3. Delivery
Some hotels allow for delivery, but this is by no means a given. Plan for the worst and hopefully you will be happily surprised. The most popular apps in China for food delivery are 饿了么 Eleme and 美团 Meituan.
Note: To order delivery in China, you must have a Chinese SIM card.
4. Have people send you food
Some hotels will allow you to receive care packages from people within China, so if you have contacts like friends or an employer, reach out to them! If you don’t have a Chinese SIM card, this is another workaround for getting some more variety in your quarantine meals.
5. DIY your own Quarantine Kitchen
Honestly, whether you’re vegan or not, you should come to quarantine prepared to make at least some of your own food. Not only is this the only way to 100% ensure that your meal is vegan, but it kills time (trust me, you’re going to have a lot of it!). Most hotels will not allow cooking in the hotel room, but you can get quite innovative with a kettle and some instant noodles. You can also save some of the elements of the hotel food to make your dishes more exciting.
In conclusion…
Hotel quarantine in China is not an easy experience for anyone. As vegans, we can sometimes put unnecessary pressure on ourselves to be perfect, but remember that these are extreme circumstances. The Vegan Society defines veganism as avoiding animals and their products “as far as is possible and practicable.” Some of my interviewees who experienced more extreme food limitations made the difficult choice to eat some eggs and dairy products during their stay. Treat yourself with compassion during this time and decide what is best for your individual circumstance. Once you’re out of quarantine, I can assure you that there are so many vegan dishes and goodies waiting for you!
