Savor the unique flavors of Shaoxing, a water town and ancient city.
Shaoxing, an ancient water town in Jiangnan with a history of over 2,500 years, attracts visitors from all over the world not only with its unique cultural heritage and beautiful scenery, but also with its profound culinary culture, securing its place on the map of Chinese cuisine. XOOTOUR's senior destination columnist will guide you through the streets and alleys of Shaoxing, exploring the distinctive delicacies that carry the weight of time and local customs, presenting you with a professional and authentic Shaoxing food guide.
Shaoxing Must-Try Signature Food List
Shaoxing cuisine is renowned for its "original flavor, tender and fragrant texture, and emphasis on seasonality," particularly its four main flavor profiles: fermented, soy-sauce-based, pickled, and marinated. Below are some signature dishes you shouldn't miss in Shaoxing:
1. Braised Pork Belly with Preserved Mustard Greens: A classic dish well-known in Shaoxing, braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens uses high-quality pork belly with a good balance of fat and lean meat. After steaming, it is braised with specially made preserved mustard greens. The preserved mustard greens fully absorb the oil and rich flavor of the meat, becoming oily, salty, and fragrant; the pork belly, in turn, absorbs the unique flavor of the preserved mustard greens, becoming rich but not greasy, melting in your mouth, and intensely fragrant. It is an excellent accompaniment to rice and wine. Its flavor is characterized by the perfect fusion of the unique fermented aroma of the preserved mustard greens and the savory taste of the meat, creating a deep and layered taste experience.
2. Shaoxing Stinky Tofu: Distinct from stinky tofu found in other parts of China, Shaoxing stinky tofu is renowned for its unique fermentation process and its delicate, pleasant "stink." It is typically prepared in two ways: fried and steamed. Fried stinky tofu has a golden-brown, crispy exterior and a soft, tender interior, served with sweet bean sauce or chili sauce, offering a fragrant aroma and a lingering aftertaste. Steamed stinky tofu, on the other hand, brings out its natural flavor, with a delicate texture. It is often steamed with minced meat and chili peppers, resulting in a richer, more complex flavor. Its defining characteristic is that it "smells bad but tastes good," and the pungent smell is not overpowering but rather carries a unique, refreshing aroma from plant fermentation.
3. Drunken Chicken/Drunken Shrimp: The essence of Shaoxing rice wine is embodied in cooking. Fresh chicken or live shrimp is marinated in Shaoxing rice wine, ginger, scallions, a small amount of salt, and sugar. Drunken chicken is tender, with a rich aroma of wine and a subtle sweetness; drunken shrimp has springy meat, a refreshing wine flavor, and a fresh, sweet taste. Both are top-quality cold dishes, fully showcasing the "drunken" characteristic of Shaoxing cuisine, leaving a lingering and unforgettable aftertaste.
4. Braised Duck: Made from high-quality local ducks, this dish undergoes a series of meticulous processes including long-term marinating in a secret sauce, air-drying, and steaming. The finished product boasts an appealing bright red color, firm yet tender meat, a savory and slightly sweet flavor, and a rich, mellow aroma. Braised duck is not only a common cold dish at Shaoxing banquets but also a popular gift among locals for friends and relatives, its unique flavor deeply loved by diners.
5. Steamed Mullet: Shaoxing is located in a water town and is rich in freshwater seafood. Steamed mullet is renowned for its original flavor. Fresh mullet is selected and steamed simply with shredded ginger, scallions, and a small amount of soy sauce. The fish meat is white, tender, and incredibly delicious, preserving the original flavor of the fish to the greatest extent possible. This is the best way to test the freshness of the ingredients. This dish reflects the respect and pursuit of the original flavor of ingredients by the people of Shaoxing.
6. Fennel Beans: Famous for the character Kong Yiji from Lu Xun's novels, fennel beans have become a cultural symbol and classic snack of Shaoxing. Made with large broad beans, they are slow-cooked with fennel, cinnamon, star anise, and other spices. The beans are soft and flavorful, with a unique fennel aroma, making them the perfect snack to pair with Shaoxing rice wine and an important part of experiencing local street life.
7. Fermented Rice Buns/Fermented Rice Balls: Fermented rice buns are made with Shaoxing's specialty fermented rice wine, resulting in a soft texture with a subtle aroma of wine and a slightly sweet taste. They are a common choice for breakfast in the area. Fermented rice balls, on the other hand, are made with fermented rice wine as a base, and include small rice balls, eggs, osmanthus flowers, etc. They are sweet, glutinous, and warming, making them an ideal dessert in winter or at night. They have a unique flavor and are nourishing and gentle.
Local favorites for food
To savor the most authentic Shaoxing cuisine, the key is to explore the neighborhoods frequented by locals. These places often retain the purest local charm and the most traditional flavors.
1. Cangqiao Straight Street: As one of the best-preserved historical streets in Shaoxing, Cangqiao Straight Street is not only scenic but also a food paradise. Numerous traditional snack shops and time-honored restaurants line the street, where you can find authentic stinky tofu, fennel beans, and Shaoxing rice wine milk tea. Many of the shops in the area are family-run, offering authentic flavors at affordable prices, making it an excellent place to experience the vibrant, everyday life of Shaoxing.
2. The area surrounding Lu Xun's Former Residence: Lu Xun's Former Residence is a landmark attraction in Shaoxing, and its surrounding area is also a treasure trove of delicious food. Besides the restaurants frequented by tourists, hidden in the alleys slightly off the main streets are many small shops frequented by locals. Here, you can enjoy home-style Shaoxing cuisine, such as steamed river fish and braised pork with preserved mustard greens, as well as some specialty pastries and traditional snacks. It's recommended to pay attention to those inconspicuous shops that are always packed with customers.
3. Fushan Straight Street: Similar to Cangqiao Straight Street, Fushan Straight Street is also an old street full of historical charm. It not only boasts quaint buildings but also many long-established shops offering authentic Shaoxing cuisine and snacks. Compared to areas more frequented by tourists, the dining options on Fushan Straight Street are more geared towards the daily consumption of local residents, thus often offering better value for money in terms of taste and price.
Tips for avoiding overpriced and overpriced shops and tourist attractions
While enjoying delicious food, avoiding disappointing experiences is a concern for every traveler. Here are some practical tips:
1. Beware of "trendy" restaurants: Many "trendy" restaurants that are popular on social media often focus on store decoration and marketing, while neglecting the quality and taste of their food. These restaurants are usually expensive and have long queues, but the actual taste may not meet expectations. When choosing a restaurant, it is recommended to prioritize those with a simple storefront, a clientele of locals, or a long-established business, rather than simply chasing trends.
2. Avoid High Prices in Core Areas of Scenic Spots: Restaurants in the core areas or near the entrances of major tourist attractions such as Lu Xun's Former Residence and Shen Garden generally have inflated prices. These restaurants have high rent costs and primarily cater to tourists, so their prices are often higher than market rates, and the flavors may lose their authentic character in order to appeal to the masses. It is recommended that after visiting the scenic area, walk a few hundred meters to a kilometer to find restaurants in the surrounding alleys and streets; you will usually find better value for money and more authentic flavors.
3. Observe local diners: A simple and effective criterion is to observe the composition of the restaurant's clientele. If a restaurant has a large number of local diners, especially older people, then the food is usually authentic and reasonably priced. Conversely, if the restaurant is mostly filled with tourists, caution is advised. Locals' discerning taste for their hometown flavors is the best "food guide."
4. Do your research beforehand: Use professional travel platforms like XOOTOUR or local food forums to check restaurant reviews and recommendations. Pay attention to established restaurants and specialty food stalls that are frequently mentioned and have consistently high ratings. However, please note that reviews may not be entirely accurate, so you should combine information from multiple sources to make a comprehensive judgment.
In Shaoxing, slow down and savor the unique local flavor and cultural heritage of this ancient water town.