Xitang Ancient Town Travel Guide for Food

 If you are traveling to Xitang, don't forget to taste the local food. Now in the third generation, the business has been expanded and Grammy Guan’s Stinky Tofu becomes a registered trademark. That is why you will see several restaurants and food stalls hanging the sign of Grammy Guan’s Stinky Tofu in the town of Xitang. They are all authentic even though they are joined businesses. The only one shop owned by Grammy Guan’s grandson is located at Shiban Road no. 92.

The Qian’s Beancurd Jelly (Qian Shi Dou Fu Hua)
At the intersection between Yanyuchanglang and Yongning Bridge top China tours, there is a small stall selling beancurd jelly, which is their specialty. They sell fried bread stick and green bean noodle as well. The beancurd is famous for its smoothness. The beancurd jelly can be consumed with either srupy or soya sauce. If you don’t state beforehand, the jelly will be served salty. You may also add other condiments such as vintage and chili for your liking.

Baked Roll with Dried Vegetable (Mei Gan Cai Shao Bing)
In a very small shop owned by a humble old man, there is a delicious snack called the baked roll with dried vegetable. The rolls are baked in a Chinese old-fashion stove. The freshly baked rolls are crispy and savory yet not greasy. Everyday there are tourists lining up in front of the shop to buy the baked roll. Many of them are returned customers. One roll costs five Yuan. It is very big. The shop is not so easy to find. It is under the Songzilaifeng Bridge.

The Lu’s Wonton (Lu Shi Hun Tun)
The wonton is with thin layer wrapping little meat ball suitable for one bite each. The comments vary: some say it is good some say it is not living up to its reputation. Most importantly the size of the wonton is not generous. The restaurant is located at Youdian Xi Road, Weitang Town popular China tour package. 

Meng Li Shui Xiang Restaurant
It is a nice place for authentic local dish. The lotus leaf chicken is their specialty. The savor of the lotus leaf is soaked into the chicken meat. The stew time for the chicken is perfect as it is thick in taste but remains soft. Steamed baishui fish is also very good. Baishui fish is an expensive kind in freshwater fish. The restaurant has fancy interior. The owner of the restaurant is also one of the cook. The place is located at the west entrance (Xi Men) of the ancient town.

Fermented Glutinous Rice Ball Soup (Jiu Niang Wan Zi)
Near the Huanxiu Bridge, there is a shop selling the best fermented glutinous rice ball soup. Cold rice ball soup is suitable snack in the summer while the hot rice ball soup is perfect for winter.

Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai

The garden of peace
The famous Yuyuan garden in Shanghai lives up to its literal meaning - that is garden of contentment or peace. Visiting the extensive garden located in the north east of the equally intriguing City God Temple should give any visitor a lot of contentment.

The garden is believed to have been constructed by a government officer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) named Pan Yunduan. The garden was meant to give Pan's parents a place for enjoyment of peace and tranquility especially in their old age. It has however undergone many changes in the four hundred years it has been in existence. It for instance became dilapidated after the downfall of the Ming dynasty.

It also fell into private hands at some point, and was also severely damaged during the opium war. The garden as seen to date is a product of restoration efforts that started in 1956. The five acre Yuyuan garden has six main points of interest i.e. the Sansui Hall, Yuhua Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Huijing Hall, Dianchun Hall, and the Inner Garden which have several scenic spots. Notably, on entering the garden, one is presented with a rockery, the Great Rockery, that stands about fifty feet high. You can get on top of this and get a bird’s eye view of the entire garden. At the foot of the rockery is the Cuixiu Hall surrounded by beautiful plants.

All the other scenic areas or interesting items in the garden have a story or myth attached to them with the most of them shrouded in mystery. Take for instance the Exquisite Jade Rock, which is rumored to have been meant for the imperial palace but was salvaged after the boat sank in Shanghai.

Perhaps, it is these rumors and mystery that make the rock to be the “true treasure of Yuyuan garden.” Yuyuan Garden was established first at Ming dynasty by the mandarin called Pan yunduan who was the Sichuan governor and expanded greatly. Yuyuan Garden was been considered as best garden in the south east China. He enjoyed the history more than 400 years from the first establishment by yunduan who brought happiness & pleasure to his relatives and parents.

It then became headquarters of a dagger association and sword group uprising (uprising at 1853 led by dagger association, secret organization, against foreign imperialists at Shanghai & Xiamen of the Fujian province). Now huge number of home-made coins, weapons, and announcements that were used by dagger association are in display at spring hall of this garden. The big scale restoration of Yuyuan garden was been conducted after establishment of prc & was opened to public formally at 1961.

What you can see
Sansui Hall Named originally "leshou hall", sansui hall was made with 5 commodious rooms at qing dynasty for treating & entertaining their guests. Grand Rockery Grand rockery, made by Zhang nanyan, celebrated rockery artist at Ming dynasty, can be seen as a best treasure of Yu garden and best rockery of south China. Jade Rock Exquisite Jade Rock at Yuhua hall is the 3 known rocks of China. Other two are Suzhou & "Zhouyun Rock" at Hangzhou flower nursery and "Ruiyun Rock" at Liu garden.