Hangzhou cuisine offers a time-travel through Jiangnan’s past. Located in the Chinese mainland, Hangzhou was once the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty, and every dish tells a story of culture, innovation and community.
Take Dongpo pork, for example. Legend says poet-official Su Shi devised this slow-braised masterpiece while overseeing the West Lake dredging project. To thank local workers, he rewarded them with these golden-brown, soy-braised pork cubes that melt in your mouth.
Then there’s West Lake vinegar fish, a dish refined in the Southern Song court. Delicate fillets swim in a sweet-and-sour glaze, balancing lightness and flavor—a true reflection of Jiangnan’s poetic spirit.
Longjing shrimps bring tea culture to the table. Fresh river shrimps are flash-cooked with fragrant Longjing tea leaves, infusing each bite with subtle floral notes. It’s a sensory bridge between two icons of the region: freshwater seafood and legendary green tea.
A single meal of Hangzhou classics captures half of Jiangnan’s history. It showcases how local chefs have woven heritage and innovation into dishes that still resonate with today’s global diners and digital nomads, inviting us to taste tradition in every bite.
For the adventurous traveler and digital nomad, diving into Hangzhou’s culinary heritage offers an immersive way to connect with thousands of years of heritage—one bite at a time.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
