Yangzhou Soup Dumplings

Yangzhou Soup Dumplings

　　Famous Yangzhou soup dumplings

　　Yangzhou, an ancient and cultured city, was the first stop of Emperor Qianlong on his southern tour and also a place that produced many notable figures. The tranquil Grand Canal and the beautiful Slender West Lake seem to transport visitors back to a distant dream...

　　If you have the chance to visit Yangzhou, you will surely be captivated by its enchanting charm. And if you are even luckier to make a friend in Yangzhou, they might tell you a common saying among locals: “Morning soak in water, evening soak in steam.” As a newcomer, you may be puzzled at first, but your warm and hospitable friend will likely take you to a teahouse by the canal or a small lakeside in the morning. There, you’ll sip lightly fragrant Longjing tea and then be served a famous basket of Yangzhou soup dumplings. They will then explain the story behind this saying: Yangzhou locals rise very early. Those not rushing to work enjoy starting their day with tea and a basket of soup dumplings at the teahouse — sipping the rich broth, chewing the savory meat filling. In the evening, they prefer to soak in a bathtub, taking a hot bath to wash away the dust and fatigue of the day. Hearing this story, I, as an outsider, fell into deep thought: going to a teahouse for soup dumplings fits well with traditional customs. But did people in ancient Yangzhou really bathe every day? Wasn’t that a bit too frequent—almost Westernized? However, from a scientific perspective, taking a hot bath daily can improve blood circulation throughout the body and benefit health. I couldn’t help but silently admire the wisdom behind it.

　　Sitting by the Grand Canal, along the Slender West Lake, listening to this ancient tale, I was reminded of Lu Xun’s "Three-Flavor Study." The enchanting Jianghuai culture always seems to wear a thin veil before me, inviting contemplation and stirring my imagination...