A city of mountains and waters, half a cup of rice wine, a table full of everyday life. The beauty of Shaoxing hides in the ancient charm of gray tiles and white walls and melts into every bite infused with Jiangnan elegance. From authentic banquets in the thousand-year-old city to street snacks and then to signature flavors in its counties and cities, every dish tells the story of this water town, waiting for us to savor.

The best is the perfect blend of Shaoxing rice wine and fresh river shrimp, fresh without any fishiness, clear and sweet with a lingering aftertaste. The shrimp meat is plump and crisp, the wine aroma elegant and soft, the flavor long-lasting. No complicated seasonings are added; it relies solely on the rice wine soaking in.

Every bite is filled with the sweet, fresh taste of Jiangnan waters, an authentic flavor that lingers in the heart of Jiangnan. Anchang Ancient Town thrived by the water and prospered in commerce. In the past, the twelfth lunar month was not only the end of the year's farming for water town families, but also an important time to prepare food and welcome the New Year.

Back then, supplies were not as abundant as today, so the clever and hardworking townspeople came up with the idea of making pork into cured sausage for long-term storage. Every twelfth lunar month, the eaves are hung full of cured sausages, dark red and fragrant, glossy and tempting. It is not only a treat for the taste buds, but also the townspeople's dedication to tradition.

When you stroll through the old streets and alleys of Shaoxing, you can often smell that unique scent: the signal of stinky tofu. Unlike Changsha stinky tofu, Shaoxing stinky tofu is deep-fried until crispy outside and tender inside, then drizzled with sweet or spicy sauce. One bite, and the bean fragrance mixed with a slight pungency bursts in your mouth.

Ciwu Da Mian comes from Zhuji in Shaoxing, a noodle dish engraved in Shaoxing's bones. It doesn't care for fancy presentation, only real flavor and substance. The toppings of Ciwu Da Mian are a highlight, stir-fried fresh to order, instantly filling the air with aroma, and making your mouth water.

Shengzhou xiaolongbao has wrappers as thin as paper, and the meat filling holds surprises, firm yet springy and tender. With every bite, you can feel the meat bouncing between your teeth and the savory flavor instantly fills your mouth. Warm and smoky, with a lingering aftertaste.

The taste of Shaoxing is a gift settled by time, the warmth of everyday life, and the elegance engraved in the bones of Jiangnan. Every season and every flavor has its own charm. Tasting Shaoxing means tasting a gentle old dream of Jiangnan and finding a piece of earthly beauty that heals the heart.