Grilled Eel…
Stir-fried Black Glutinous Rice…
Suzhou ancient-scented brocade can be divided into two types based on patterns: "Landscape Ancient-scented" and "Floral Ancient-scented." The "Landscape Ancient-scented" patterns are inspired by ethnically distinctive natural scenery such as mountains and rivers, pavilions and towers, small bridges over flowing water; while the "Floral Ancient-scented" patterns mostly feature traditional folk flower designs loved by many. Suzhou ancient-scented brocade is woven using mulberry silk and…
The total stock of freshwater clams in Taihu Lake is around 70,000 tons, ranking first among China’s five largest freshwater lakes. These clams are delicious in taste and rich in nutrition, making them a high-protein, low-fat aquatic product with strong demand in the Japanese market. Fishermen from Dongshan harvest the clams during the off-season for fishing, ensuring they are caught and shipped fresh. The entire process—catching, sorting, transporting, and warehousing—is completed within three days…
The pond loach from Wu County is mainly produced in the areas of East Taihu Lake such as Hengjing, Puzhuang, Ducun, and Dongshan. They are caught when the rapeseed flowers bloom in spring, with an annual yield of about 25 tons. Pond loach has tender and delicious meat, rich in nutrition, and is a unique delicacy in the water towns of the Jiangnan region. The “bean paste soup” made from the flesh of its cheek pouches is an especially renowned dish across Jiangnan. …
Sweet, fluffy, tender yet chewy, fragrant, rich, soft, and delicately flaky—these are the hallmarks of Suzhou-style pastries. With an extensive variety, there are over 170 different types in terms of shapes and fillings.…
Fresh Mao Taro is a specialty of Taicang City, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. The Fresh Mao Aromatic Taro is a well-known local variety, renowned for its pure fragrance, glutinous texture, and premium quality, making it highly popular in domestic markets such as Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu. Fresh Mao Taro is a traditional agricultural product of Taicang, developed through the improvement and systematic selection by farmers in the Fresh Mao area...
Suzhou locals have a fondness for sweet and glutinous foods, and it’s customary to exchange auspicious and festive gifts during holidays and celebrations as a token of good wishes. Founded in the first year of the Daoguang era during the Qing Dynasty (1821), Huang Tianyuan Cake and Glutinous Rice has become a highly popular gift choice. In recent years, while staying true to traditional Suzhou flavors, Huang Tianyuan has also drawn inspiration from Western...
Suzhou’s cooked and cured meats have a long history, known for their excellent color, aroma, and flavor. Among them, sauce meat is especially popular. According to local customs in Suzhou, from just before Qingming Festival until after Lixia (Start of Summer), many people enjoy buying sauce meat as a seasonal delicacy. Tourists from other regions also flock to purchase it for its fame. Legend has it that sauce meat has been available in the market for over 200 years. Initially, it was called...
Zhouzhuang bamboo weaving has a long production history. During the Qing Dynasty, a "Bamboo Weaving Lane" emerged in the northern part of the town, producing baskets, winnowing trays, crates, plaques, mats, buckets, mats, and other daily and production tools. Zhouzhuang bamboo weaving is known for being fine, sturdy, and durable, earning a reputation across the surrounding areas. To complement the development of tourism, its delicate, compact, and practical bamboo craft products have become highly favored by visitors.…
Wansan Cake, a specialty of Zhouzhuang, has a history of several hundred years. The Zou family in the town has inherited the ancestral business, producing a variety of cakes. Thanks to their premium ingredients, diverse varieties, thin slices, smooth and glutinous texture, and melt-in-the-mouth feel, they are highly favored by consumers. The Zou family’s ancestors established the Gongmao Tea Snack Workshop as early as the early Ming Dynasty. During festivals, their wealthy neighbor Shen Wansan would often order large quantities of cakes to give as gifts and serve to relatives and friends...
Shazhou Youhuang is a specialty from Jin Gang Town, Zhangjiagang City, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. The brewing process of Shazhou Youhuang is unique and meticulous. The finished product features an orange-red hue, is clear and transparent, boasts a mellow and refreshing taste, and is rich in nutrients. The production technique of Shazhou Youhuang has been included in the first batch of municipal intangible cultural heritage lists. The origin of Shazhou Youhuang is in…
Deer Garden Chicken is a specialty of Luyuan Town, Zhangjiagang City, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It is known for its adaptability to free-range grazing, strong foraging ability, wide adaptability, tolerance to coarse feed, strong disease resistance, and high-quality eggs and meat. Deer Garden Chicken is a traditional, premium, and distinctive product of Zhangjiagang City. It gets its name from its place of origin, Luyuan Town, and is said to have been raised there for over two hundred years...
Nanli Celery is a variety of water celery grown in Zhujialong, Fengxing Village (now Jingu Village), Fenghuang Town. Known for its superior quality, it has gained fame in markets such as Caojiadu in Shanghai and South Gate in Suzhou, where it is called “Nanli Celery.” The history of Nanli Celery dates back a long time. Legend has it that during the Song Dynasty, the famous general Han Shizhong and his wife, Lady Liang Hongyu, led troops to garrison Qing’an. They were besieged by Jin forces…
Changyinsha Rice is a specialty of Changyinsha in Zhangjiagang City, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. Cooked Changyinsha Rice is translucent, soft and smooth in texture, elastic, remains firm when cold, and has an excellent eating quality. Located at the junction of Changshu, Jiangyin, and Zhangjiagang, Changyinsha boasts its own unique soil topography and distinct microclimate from the Yangtze River…
Gaozhuang Dried Tofu from Fenghuang, Zhangjiagang, dates back to the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty and has a history of over 100 years. The production of Gaozhuang Dried Tofu is meticulous and unique, coming in both thick and thin varieties. It has a dark reddish color, a fine and solid texture, and is well-seasoned with five-spice flavors. It makes for a great snack or an excellent accompaniment to drinks. The production base of Gaozhuang Dried Tofu is located in Nangaozhuang Village, Fenghuang Town...
Farmhouse Chicken Stew is a signature dish from Suzhou. The ingredients are all locally sourced — free-range chickens raised by Tongli residents in the countryside, which grow up feeding on green grass, tender insects, and rice grains. The stew combines these farm-raised chickens with flat bamboo shoots and wild fungi, resulting in a delicious dish with tender chicken that is juicy but not greasy. It is high in protein,…
Suzhou is not only famous for its ancient gardens but also boasts many popular traditional delicacies. The Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish from Song He Lou is one of them. The fame of this dish actually began with Emperor Qianlong’s memorable visit to the restaurant.
Tuo Lu Cake is a famous traditional snack from Yangshe and Tangqiao in Zhangjiagang City. This cake has a long history, dating back over 150 years. Its production process is unique—during baking, two ovens are used: a bottom oven (flat-bottomed) and a top oven (pointed, cone-shaped). Both ovens heat simultaneously in alignment, and…
Take a little over one pound of green shrimp, let them soak briefly in clean water to remove mud and impurities. Then take a little over two pounds of flour, place it in a mixing bowl, and mix it with cold water to form a batter. Add the green shrimp (with their legs and whiskers trimmed) into the batter, along with a small amount of salt and finely chopped scallions, and stir evenly with chopsticks. Use a spatula to place the green shrimp and a small portion of the batter together into the boiling…