Leshan’s Qiaojiao Beef: A Food Stop in Suji Ancient Town

Sichuan flavour, without the red soup

A slice of beef rises from a pale, steaming broth. Beside it sits a little saucer of chilli seasoning. You take a sip, dip the meat, and discover a side of Sichuan that looks very different from a bubbling red hotpot.

This is qiaojiao beef — 跷脚牛肉, one of Leshan’s signature dishes. Suji Ancient Town, west of central Leshan, is a particularly rewarding place to seek it out: come for the bowl, then follow the old streets towards the river and the local sweet shops.

The pleasure is in the bowl — and the dip

Qiaojiao beef brings beef and offal together in a clear, aromatic broth, finished with fresh herbs. The chilli sits alongside, so each mouthful can move between the savoury soup and a stronger, spicier dip. Rice makes a simple companion.

If you love trying different textures, look for beef alongside tripe and other cuts on the menu. Prefer to start with the familiar? Ask for beef slices, 牛肉片, and tell your host you would like meat rather than offal. That small conversation helps turn an unfamiliar dish into a meal you can enjoy.

A crisp finish on Suji’s old streets

After the broth comes something entirely different: mifatang, a crisp sweet made with puffed rice and sugar, with sesame and nut variations. The light crunch is a lovely contrast to the warm, savoury meal.

A little sweetness after the savoury broth: Suji’s mifatang.

Suji’s appeal reaches beyond a quick food stop. The Emei River, Rugong Bridge and the old streets give the meal a setting; local craft and cultural activity add another reason to linger. Look into the shop windows, compare the different sweets, and take a small bag away for the next part of your journey.

How to find this Leshan food experience

Save 苏稽古镇 in your map app, then look for 跷脚牛肉 around the town. Photos of the broth and the menu will help you recognise the dish. A local guide can help you choose the cuts, order the dip and discover what else is being made nearby.

Suji is a separate outing from the Giant Buddha area, rather than the next street along. If both are on your wish list, leave room for the journey between them and time to sit down for the meal. The food deserves more than a hurried takeaway between landmarks.

Build Sichuan around the experiences you want

Leshan can be more than a famous statue on a checklist. A bowl in Suji, the Giant Buddha viewed from the river or hillside, and Chengdu’s neighbourhood food can each bring a different part of Sichuan into focus.

Explore our Sichuan journey, or tell First Landing Travel which food and heritage experiences you would love to include. We can bring them together with transport, places to stay and local guiding.