Long Chao Shou

Long Chao Shou

　　 Founded in the 1940s, Long Chao Shou was started by several employees, including Zhang Guangwu, at the “Nonghua Teahouse” on Chunxi Road, who joined forces to establish a wonton shop. They chose the name “Long Chao Shou,” playing on the sound of “Nong” (浓) from the teahouse’s name and also evoking the symbolism of “prosperity of the dragon and phoenix.” The hallmark traits of Long Chao Shou are its thin wrappers, tender filling, and delicious broth. The wrappers are crafted from top-grade flour mixed with a few special ingredients, carefully hand-kneaded and rolled into translucent sheets that are “as thin as paper and as fine as silk.” The meat filling is tender, silky-smooth, and savory. The original broth is prepared by slowly simmering chicken, duck, and select pork cuts, resulting in a broth that is white, rich, and highly aromatic.

　　 Long Chao Shou is renowned for its thin wrappers, tender filling, silky texture, fresh flavor, and thick, milky-white broth, making it one of Chengdu’s finest snacks. The name does not derive from the owner’s surname but rather from a discussion among three partners at the “Nonghua Teahouse” about opening a wonton shop. They chose the name “Long” (龙) as a homophone for “Nong” (浓), while also symbolizing vigor (“like a dragon leaping and a tiger springing”) and prosperous business (“prosperity”). “Chao Shou” is the Sichuanese term for wontons. Its name likely comes from the way the dough is gathered at both ends during wrapping. Chengdu’s “Long Chao Shou” was first opened in 1941 at Yuelaichang in Chengdu, relocated to Xinjichang in the early 1950s, and then moved to the southern section of Chunxi Road in the 1960s, where it has remained for over 60 years. During its initial planning stages, founder Zhang Wuguang and friends discussed the shop name at the then “Nonghua Teahouse,” deciding to use “Long” as a homophone for “Nong” (which sounds the same in the local Sichuan dialect), symbolizing luck and prosperity, hence the name “Long Chao Shou.”