Go to China in the summer, especially in southern China where it is hot in the day and only bearable at night, night markets with just lots of street food are pretty intense.
Unless you want to be easily exposed to dangerous elements like gutter oil or fake food, which is prevalent in China, I recommend other food stall cities like Singapore or Taiwan.
Seconded. Taiwan is the superpower not just in semiconductor manufacturing but also in street food. Many quirky snacks from there repopulated the culinary desert of post-Maoist mainland, and bubble tea spread all over the world.
Gutter oil has been exceedingly rare in recent years in China due to extremely harsh crackdowns (literally death penalties were handed out). You will be fine these days in bigger cities.
Not sure why you would take Chinese government's word on anything, when they still refuse to accept blame for releasing covid to the world and killing millions, and giving long covid and removing smell and taste for many more.