小吃

The Chinese word 小吃 (xiǎochī) is a compound word consisting of two characters: 小 (xiǎo), meaning "small", and 吃 (chī), meaning "to eat". Together, they literally mean "small eats" or "snacks". The term is used to refer to a wide variety of Chinese street foods and snacks, which are typically sold from street vendors or small restaurants.The history of Chinese snacks can be traced back to the ancient times. In the early days, people used to make simple snacks at home. As the economy developed, more and more people began to sell snacks on the streets. In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the snack culture in China reached its peak. There were many famous snack streets in the capital city of Kaifeng, and people from all over the country came to taste the delicious snacks.Today, Chinese snacks are still very popular. They are not only sold in China, but also in many other countries around the world. Some of the most popular Chinese snacks include dumplings, noodles, steamed buns, pancakes, and fried dough.