Dates Steamed Cake

Last updated 2026-10-11 — Dates Steamed Cake, also known as Crystal Dragon-Phoenix Cake, is a specialty of Xi’an, Shaanxi. Steamed Cake is a traditional breakfast food and local delicacy in the Guanzhong region with a long history and great renown. It is a sweet cake made from glutinous rice and red dates, layered alternately in three or four tiers, and steamed in a “zeng” pot — an evolved form of the ancient steaming vessel called “zeng.” This is also the origin of the cake’s name. The cake features bright colors with alternating red and white layers, a rich date aroma, and a soft, sticky, and sweet texture.