Here are past answers on this topic:

• [Bread in China] Japan/china and bread
  ^([05 Dec 2013 | 4 comments])

• [Wheat vs. Rice in East Asia] how come in the early middle ages (lets say AD790 if that's too vague) risen bread was staple food in Europe and near east but not in north east Asia? and transversely how come rice wasn't a staple in Europe?
  ^([13 Apr 2014 | 18 comments])

    Ask follow-up questions here & with relevant usernames included (i.e. Why did x happen? /u/OldWorldGlory).

In China steamed levened buns called mantou is still widely consumed as an alternative to rice. In Jin Dynasty author Shu Xi even wrote an "Rhapsody of Soup and Bread" (汤饼赋) describing steamed buns in historical context and best time to serve it as well as other forms of flat and levened bread. It described steamed bread existed since at least the Han Dynasty.