Food in Suzhou

Previously:

Shantang Street, Suzhou

This restaurant's got the whole Chinese vibe going on - red pillars, tiled roofs, lanterns, and most importantly awesome noodles.  Tong De Xing specialised in Suzhou style noodles and the broth is the key.  Their clear broth has somehow managed to cram in a crazy amount of umami and depth of flavour.  A rich broth accompanied with al dente cooked noodles and served with your choice of toppings.  You can order plain noodles with individual meat toppings or choose from their set menus.  Classic toppings are including braised pork, stir fried shrimp and deep-fried fish or more luxurious item like crab roe sauce.

For their set menus, it comes with a few side dishes, some's got fruits, sweet and stir-fried greens or some with pickles and cold chicken.  There is no English menu available, but if you have Alipay apps, you can view menu in English and order food from there.  Waitresses here are also very nice and helpful although they speak minimal English. 

At night, we were randomly gone into this bread shop.  The shop looks different from most of standard Chinese shops.  This bakery shop gave a modern bread shop feeling and they serve appetising looking breads and cakes as well.  I mean this kind of shop is pretty normal in the metropolitan city like Shanghai but very unexpected to see one in Suzhou. 

We bought a few items here but didn't get to eat them until the next morning.  Honestly, the bread still soft and tasty.  We also got a few cookies from them.  If I tried and knew how good they were, I will definitely buy some more things from them.

Notably, Suzhou is also famous for its deep-fried mala.  You can literally stumble upon mala stalls on every street corner.  It's a choose-your-own-adventure kind of deal - pick your faves, toss them in a basket and hand them over to the seller who will fry them to a golden brown and sprinkle some magic spices on top. The best part? They are inexpensive and satisfying. 

Tong De Xing

6 Jiayufang, Gusu District, Suzhou

Ph: +86 512 6516 5206

Open: Everyday 10:30am - 2pm then 5pm -9pm

Luwaer Bakery

287 Xinshi Rd, Gusu District, Suzhou

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Suzhou:

Pan Pacific Hotel, Suzhou

Shantang Street, Suzhou

Previously:

Xi Yuan Temple, Suzhou

Suzhou is famed for its criss-crossing canals and lakes run though the city.  Creating calm and beautiful sceneries.  There are also many shops or market lay along waterways which makes it even more exciting to visit.  While Ping Jiang road is the most popular canal side street of the city, instead we did explore Shantang Street where a little further from the city centre but gives a classic feel of traditional Chinese lifestyle. 

We went there late afternoon and right before sunset.  The golden sun reflected on the walls and water, makes this canal street side so pretty and charming.  Very beautiful town.  There are so many shops selling snacks and souvenirs.  Scroll down for some snacks and drinks that we got from there.

If you come with a car, there is a car park situated in the middle of the market.  It is very convenient.

Red bean filled pastry

Tea with whipped cream in bamboo cup CNY 30 (about AUD 6.50)

Su dim sum CNY 10 for 4 pieces (about AUD 2.20/4 pcs)

These Su dim sum, without a doubt are very pretty.  But nothing like its look.  There are made from rice flour.  It was very lightly sweetened with a soft texture.  I can't taste anything else.  

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Suzhou:

Food in Suzhou

Xi Yuan Temple, Suzhou

Previously:

Wokman in Hongyi Plaza, Shanghai

Suzhou is renowned as the "Venice of Asia" due to its unique landscape positioned in the Yangtze basin.  Its canals, stone bridges and classical gardens have become notable tourist attractions.  This setting is remarkably picturesque, generating a feeling of being transported back to ancient China.

However, Suzhou should not be perceived solely as an ancient town.  Suzhou represents a harmonious fusion of traditional Chinese architectural styles and modern urban development.  As seen in the vicinity of Jinji Lake, which showcase the city's modern identity. 

The best way to reach this city from Shanghai is by high-speed train that takes less than 30 minutes.  However, as we come in a group of 9 people, we booked a van and a driver for convenient.  And with the same van, it took us around the town as well as a return trip to Hangzhou.  Driving to Suzhou required slightly more time, about one and half hour.

Right away, we stopped at Xi Yuan Temple where there is a hall of 500 Arhat statues that worth seeing in the temple. These all 500 Arhats has different shapes and styles.  After worshiping the Thousand hands Guanyin in the middle of the hall, you can do the "counting Arhats" to get your faith reading.  Start with men on the left and women on the right, choose a statue that you like then counting one by one based on your age in lunar years.  Once done, the Arhat in front of you represents your present life.  If interested, you can remember the number of the Arhat and go to the entrance of the hall to get a corresponding card with annotations.  You need to pay 15 Yuan for this, but it is only in Chinese.  If you cannot read Chinese like me, just use the Google translator.

Just outside the temple, there is this old couple selling some colourful pretty looking mochi.  I was in a hurry, so I didn't get any.  Later on, I found out that this type of mochi is one of Suzhou delicacies, called Su dim sum.  I brought one from the market that you can find in my next blog.  So, see you all soon in my next blog.

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Suzhou:

Shantang Street, Suzhou

Wokman in Hongyi Plaza, Shanghai

Previously:

A Day in Shanghai

There is one restaurant inside Hongyi Plaza that serving Hunan food.  It is located on the basement of the mall.  The place is always busy.  They have a few interesting menus that we would like to try.  Ended up, it was one of the best meals we had in China.  All the dishes that we ordered were absolutely delicious and tasty. 

Their pork belly was so soft and tender.  Their fish and sour cabbage soup was very flavoursome and pungent.  It warmed up our cold chilly night with its warm soup and spicy chilli.  Most of all, the one that impress me the most was their stir-fried green with garlic and pork lard.  Vegies were cooked perfectly.  It was still crunchy and that salty pork lard enhanced the boring vegie dish to the next level.

I highly recommend this place.  The price was low, I would say and yet the portion was generous.  Food taste was spot on.  The restaurant looks clean and serving was prompt.  I would easily give them 10 out of 10. 

Super braised pork belly CNY 45 (about AUD 9.60)

Large pot sour cabbage fish CNY58 (about AUD 12.40)

Super stir-fried pork CNY 59 (about AUD 12.60) 

Stir fried red cabbage sprouts with oil residue CNY22 (about AUD 4.70)

Wokman

Hongyi Plaza, 299 Nanjing Lu (Level B1)

Stay tuned for the next blog in Suzhou:

Xi Yuan Temple, Suzhou

A Day in Shanghai

Previously:

M&M's World, Shanghai

Our visit to Shanghai lasted two nights, with only one full day available for touring around this massive city.  I attempted to visit numerous iconic sites within a tight timeframe and have summarised them in this post, which I hope my lovely readers will enjoy it.

First, Chinese mochi for breakfast. The shop is located at the intersection of Nanjing road and Zhejiang Road.  People were continually arriving to buy their mochi, but the queue moved fairly quickly.  We were initially uncertain about what to get, so we decided to buy one each.  They were surprisingly good.  The texture was soft and chewy and the fillings were plentiful.  The one with black sesame filling and coated with coconut flakes was my favourite.

On that day, we also visited Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Disney store, Yu Yuan or Yu Garden, and Jade Buddha Temple.  Travelling around Shanghai city with their Metro is very convenient and cheap as well.  You can buy ticket from ticket machine and there are English language signs everywhere.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower (nearest station is Lujiazui Station)

Yu Garden

In Yu Garden, there is a less busy POP mart, although the shop is way smaller than the one on Nanjing Road but it makes buying things much enjoyable.  There are also a few must-try Shanghainese snacks which you can find here.  For example, giant soup dumpling, tanghulu or crispy sugar-coated fruits and also some skewers.

The giant dumpling is for me just something to try once in a lifetime.  It is definitely something new for me, unfortunately taste wise, didn't meet my expectation.  It was huge yet plain dumpling skin with full of soup inside.  But hardly any meat in it, I believe is zero meat actually.  They gave us a straw to suck all the soup.  It was more like drinking some kinda broth rather than eating a dumpling.  I still prefer just the normal xiao long bao. 

Giant soup dumpling CNY 29 (about AUD 6.20)

Deep fried shallot cracker CNY 16 (about AUD 3.40)

Tanghulu - sugar coated fruits (grape is CNY18 or about AUD3.85)

Jade Buddha Temple

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Shanghai:

Wokman in Hongyi Plaza, Shanghai