Soft, fluffy, and round like a white auspicious cloud floating onto the table, these sunny red bean buns are so popular that they seem to arrive only after much anticipation, steaming hot with a sprinkling of white sugar on top like a frosty shimmer. Gently blow away the heat, take a small bite, and the tender texture feels as though it might melt right into your tongue — the delicious taste…
Ingredients: 400g tender whip bamboo shoots, 5g dried shrimp roe, 2g monosodium glutamate (MSG), 10g sugar, 10g wet starch, 10ml sesame oil, 500ml salad oil, 10ml Shaoxing wine, 25ml soy sauce, 125ml milk broth Method: 1. Wash the whip bamboo shoots, split them in half, gently pound with a knife, then cut into strips. 2. …
The Golden Carrot is a specialty snack from Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Carrots are highly nutritious, rich in minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and iron, and they boast one of the highest levels of beta-carotene among vegetables. The Golden Carrot dish at HLD also allows diners to enjoy both nutrition and enhanced flavor. …
Stir-fried Rice Cake with Muddy Snails is one of the signature dishes of Hangzhou, Zhejiang. The preparation method is unique: the rice cake is first pan-fried until golden brown on both sides. The muddy snails are rinsed in ginger juice and blanched, then a small amount of oil is used to stir-fry minced garlic and ginger until fragrant. The muddy snails are added, along with a special sauce, followed by the rice cake, which is stir-fried until dry and aromatic. This dish is visually appealing, with the rice cake being tender, fluffy, dry, and fragrant, and the...
Crispy Water Chestnut Cake is a specialty dish from Hangzhou, Zhejiang. The finished product has a golden crispy crust, a deliciously crunchy texture, and is a beloved snack that everyone loves. Although extremely tasty, making Crispy Water Chestnut Cake is not complicated: first, water chestnut powder and chopped water chestnuts are mashed into a paste, steamed until cooked, then removed and cooled…
The King Snake Specialty is a unique delicacy from Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Snake meat is widely popular due to its distinctive taste and rich nutritional value. Even with fried snake segments, which rely on mastering the cooking heat, different flavors can be achieved depending on the seasoning marinade used. The marinade for this King Snake Specialty is made with more than thirty...
"Scallion-Stuffed Fried Dough with Flatbread" (Cong Bao Gui) is a traditional snack with a unique flavor from Hangzhou. Legend has it that Wang Er’s fried dough shop near Wangxian Bridge became famous for making "Fried Traitors" (a pejorative snack symbolizing the infamous Qin Hui and his wife). Soon, many others imitated him, and shops selling Fried Traitors sprang up all over Hangzhou. Sometimes Wang Er would make too much and couldn’t sell it all, leaving the leftovers cold, tough, and unappetizing—no one wanted to buy them. Still fuming over his hatred for Qin Hui and his wife...
Also known as Hangzhou chrysanthemum, it is a perennial herbaceous plant and one of the famous local products of Hangzhou, ranking alongside Chuzhou chrysanthemum from Anhui and Deng chrysanthemum from Henan. Hangzhou chrysanthemum has a long cultivation history and was once used as a tribute in ancient times. Tongxiang County is the main producing area of Hangzhou chrysanthemum, where it is grown to the highest quality, including varieties such as Lake Chrysanthemum, Dayang Chrysanthemum, Xiaoyang Chrysanthemum, and Dahu Huang. Fresh…
When cooking, remove the skin and bones from the silver carp, mince the meat into a paste, mix with an appropriate amount of salt and water until smooth, then add lard and ginger juice and continue beating. Place in the refrigerator for 15–20 minutes to expand, then scoop portions into cold water using a spoon. Heat until the fish balls are formed. Sliced ham resembles agate, while the fish balls are like white jade—vivid in color, tender, smooth, and delicious. (Hangzhou…)
Stuffed Crab in Orange is an iconic dish originating from the Southern Song Dynasty, crafted using fresh lake crab meat and orange juice. After being rediscovered and refined, it has garnered widespread praise from domestic and international diners. It won the gold medal at the Third National Culinary Competition and has been included in the "China Famous Dishes Collection." The dish is vibrant in color, delicious in taste, and uniquely flavorful, embodying the ancient culinary ideals described in the classic text "Shanjia Qinggong" of...
Originally produced by the Southern Song Dynasty's official kiln exclusively for the imperial court, hence the name. Official Kiln Celadon comes in a variety of colors, including powder blue, moon white, oil gray, crab-shell green, and honey-yellow. Its characteristics include thin body and thick glaze, with a lustrous glaze that appears subdued beneath the surface; purple rims and iron feet that lend an antique elegance; naturally formed crackled patterns; and a hard, sturdy texture — all of which make it truly unique among ceramic arts. The craftsmanship behind Official Kiln Celadon has been lost...
Made from fresh bamboo shoots, these dried shoots feature a bright yellow-green color, a fragrant and aromatic scent, and a tender, delicious taste, making them an excellent accompaniment to meals. Varieties include "Beixi," "Tuting," "Zhijian," with "Beixi" being…
Also known as Hangzhou white chrysanthemum, it is a perennial herbaceous plant and one of the famous local products of Hangzhou, ranking alongside Chuzhou chrysanthemum from Anhui and Deng chrysanthemum from Henan. Hangzhou chrysanthemum has a long cultivation history and was once used as a tribute in ancient times. Tongxiang County is the main producing area of Hangzhou chrysanthemum, where the highest quality is grown, including varieties such as Lake Chrysanthemum, Dayang Chrysanthemum, Xiaoyang Chrysanthemum, and Dahuhuang. Fresh...
Chestnut and Shiitake Mushrooms combines "the king of dried fruits" — chestnuts — with shiitake mushrooms, a prized delicacy among wild mountain foods. The chestnuts are soft and starchy, while the shiitake mushrooms are tender and smooth. With two distinct flavors in one dish, complemented by green vegetables, the colors are vibrant and the presentation is refreshing and appealing. It is one of the 36 famous Hangzhou dishes recognized by Zhejiang Province in 1956. Ingredients: 75g soaked shiitake mushrooms, 30…
"Beggar's Chicken" is a famous Hangzhou dish renowned both in China and abroad. Legend has it that during ancient times of war and turmoil, many families were torn apart, and people fell into poverty, becoming beggars (commonly called "beggar folks" in Hangzhou). One day, a beggar managed to get hold of a chicken but had no pot or stove. In the grip of hunger, he imitated the method of roasting sweet potatoes—wrapping the chicken in mud...
Dongpo Pork is made primarily with fresh streaky pork belly and is a beloved traditional Hangzhou delicacy, a dish cherished for centuries. Story 1:
Clay Pot Fish Head with Tofu combines various nutrients and has excellent restorative effects. It is particularly beneficial for those who cannot eat regular meals at fixed times, helping to replenish energy and regulate body and mind during seasonal transitions. With its diverse flavors and light yet richly flavored cooking method using minimal oil, it can effectively stimulate the appetite. It is suitable for growing individuals as well as frequent consumers of luxurious foods...
The soup is thick as milk, rich, tender, smooth, and beautifully colored. This is a traditional Hangzhou delicacy derived from "Fish Head with Tofu." In the past, tofu would turn sour easily when heated, affecting taste and quality, so the availability of "Fish Head with Tofu" was limited by season. To meet the needs of customers, meticulous chefs began using ingredients such as ham and Shanghai greens to cook...
Hangzhou’s “elegant fans” have a long history and have been renowned since ancient times, deeply engraved in the hearts of the older generation of literati. The fan, as a symbol of literati, encompasses so much more than just being a practical item in daily life—the fan surface is also a canvas where poets, painters, and calligraphers showcase their talents. Since ancient times, fans have been beloved by people…
Deep-Fried Pear is a famous snack from Hangzhou. With an elegant shape, golden color, and a rich, numbingly fragrant taste that is sweet, soft, and slightly chewy, this unique flavor comes from its exclusive preparation method: a mixture of white sugar, glutinous rice flour, lard, and steamed potatoes is kneaded into a dough to form the outer layer. The filling is wrapped inside, shaped into a pear form, coated with chicken...