Shanghai
Shanghai, one of the four major municipalities of our county, is located in eastern China, at the estuary of the Yangtze River, and bordered by Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces to the west and north.
Known as “the Magic Capital”, Shanghai, as the largest financial, trade, and shipping center in the Far East has always been the window for China to connect with the world.
Shanghai is an attractive destination for the traveler who loves the modern metropolis without losing the traditional Chinese character—the old Western-style buildings on the Bund and the modern skyscrapers in Pudong are in perfect harmony; the former French concession retains the Shikumen and old houses of the past, but also shows the latest fashion elements; Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road, Xujiahui Commercial City, and Yuyuan Mall are the shopping centers of Shanghai; the authentic local dishes in the old hotels, the French feast in the Red House, and the snacks in City God Temple are sought after by people.
The Shanghai Tower, the third tallest tower in the world, offers a panoramic view of the city. And at night, the city comes alive, and everything lights up! Do not hesitate to take the cruise on the Huangpu River to discover all these nocturnal illumination, or stroll along the Nanjing Road.
Shanghai has two important airports: Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. Pudong Airport serves both international flights and a smaller number of domestic flights. And Hongqiao Airport mainly serves domestic and regional flights in East Asia. Pudong Airport is the third-busiest airport in China after Beijing–the Capital and Hong Kong, fifth-busiest in Asia, and the eighth busiest in the world. It hosted 104 airlines serving more than 210 destinations. That is, whether you are in the Americas, Europe, Africa, or Oceania. You can fly directly to Shanghai from almost any capital or a major city. Such as Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid, Lisbon, Helsinki, Prague, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, Sydney, Melbourne, etc. If you are already in China, you can fly to Shanghai from almost any major city.
Shanghai cuisine, also known as Benbang cuisine, is a popular style of Chinese food. The Shanghainese are known to have a “sweet tooth”, and more sugar is used in Shanghai’s signature dishes than in any other part of China. If you travel to Shanghai, these delicacies are not to be missed.
1. Xiaolongbao or Soup Dumplings 小笼包
A Shanghai Classic – these soup dumplings should be your first meal in Shanghai. Delicate thin-skinned dumplings, with pork or vegetable or shrimp or crab fillings inside with a delicious hot broth, each is an explosion of flavor in the mouth.
2. Steamed Crab 大闸蟹
Shanghai’s famed steamed crab uses a special type of crab found in rivers and is normally consumed in late autumn and winter. The crabs are tied with strings, placed in bamboo containers, steamed, and served. There are few other artificial ingredients added to the dish yet it tastes fantastic. Da Zha Xie(Steamed Crab) is usually consumed with vinegar.
3. Fried Pork Buns (Shengjianbao) 生煎包
Fried Shengjianbao is a top Shanghai snack. It is typically in a round bun, similar to yet thicker than a Xiaolongbao (due to the addition of yeast), and is stuffed with pork. It is then pan-fried and seasoned with sesame seeds and chopped scallions. With its tempting color, crispy skin, tender meat, and bright appearance.
4. Beggar’s Chicken 叫花鸡
Beggar’s Chicken calls for a chicken wrapped in lotus leaves, encased in mud, and roasted in fire, resulting in delicious and tender meat. This unique cooking technique produces tender, juicy, and aromatic chicken, with the original taste of the chicken perfectly retained and trapped. The bones just fall off the chicken after hours of baking, and the meat is bursting with flavor and fragrance.
5. Sweet and sour spare ribs 糖醋排骨
The fresh pork ribs, which appear shiny and red after being cooked, are traditionally deep-fried and then coated in a sweet and sour sauce.
6. Tangyuan 汤圆
A type of sweet dumpling made of glutinous rice flour and stuffed with black sesame. Qibao has many tangyuan vendors.
7. Lotus Root With Osmanthus Blossom Syrup (Gui Hua Lian’ou) 桂花糖藕
Whole lotus roots are stuffed with sticky rice, prodded into place with the aid of a long pair of chopsticks, then cooked slowly in floral-sweet osmanthus blossom syrup until the white lotus roots caramelize, quince-like, into a deep rose-brown. The osmanthus blossoms are tiny and deeply fragrant, lending the syrup an aroma of flowers and ripe apricots.
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