Nanxiang Xiaolongbao, or Nanxiang steamed bun, is a traditional local snack featuring thin skin, tender meat and juicy filling. It has a history of more than a century, since the food first appeared during the reign of Emperor Tongzhi of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911).

Delicacy: Nanxiang Xiaolongbao

Nanxiang Xiaolongbao, recognized as a “decent” local snack, was selected among the first batch of Intangible Cultural Heritages of Shanghai.

There are a total of 20 procedures in its recipe, from choosing the flour to serving it on the table. It is said that the xiaolongbao at Guyi Garden Restaurant has 18 folds. The more folds, the thinner the skin will be and the more stuffing can be wrapped. The food is not so much a snack as a delicate work of art.

Visit: Authentic Nanxiang Xiaolongbao

Authentic xiaolongbao can be tasted in Nanxiang town of Jiading district or at City God Temple of Shanghai. As the birthplace of the food, Nanxiang boasts a number of restaurants for authentic xiaolongbao. Besides the famous Guyi Garden Restaurant, there are Rihuaxuan, Jimeilou, Changxinglou and Tayunlou on Nanxiang Old Street.

The xiaolongbao restaurants on Guyiyuan Road look more or less the same, with a stove and hot snacks in bamboo food steamers at the entrance. Fengji Xiaolong is one of the old brand xiaolongbao restaurants in Nanxiang. Apart from the traditional pork stuffing, the restaurant’s xiaolongbao stuffed with crab meat are also delicious. The soups and wontons in the restaurants also boast a local flavor that is worth tasting. There are also a variety of xiaolongbao at Yiyuanju Restaurant stuffed with crab meat, shrimp and scallop and sold at a favorable price.