Love the food, love the place

Now gourmet food lovers in Beijing can enjoy Jiangsu cuisine without traveling far from home. A series of food festivals recently kicked off at Beijing Phoenix Suyuan Hotel and features fresh food, ingredients and dishes transported from the east China's province.

Hui fish in Yangtze River [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

Hosted by the Tourism Bureau of Xuanwu District, the event aims to promote the food culture of the ancient towns on a broader platform. Jishi Town of Jingjiang City is up first in the festival.

Jiangsu cuisine is widely known for its exquisite ingredients and freshness, and Jishi Town proves it so with specialties such as Xie Huang Zhan Rou or meatballs with crab yolk, fresh fishes from the Yangtze River cooked in various sauces, and steamed bun stuffed with crab yolk. Above all, you should try the Lao Zhi chicken dish, famous for its unique taste and high nutrition and made with a sauce that includes 18 kinds of natural oil.

Besides the delicious food, the small town also boasts a long and unique history. Built in the South Tang Dynasty (937 – 975), Jishi Town is now a typical water town with tranquil streets and busy canals. Among the many attractions is the Old Street featuring typical Qing dynasty architecture that cannot be missed. Of its 500 ancient buildings, nearly 400 are still intact. At the east side of the Old Street, Qing Long temple is a popular destination for prayers.

Refined works of art from Jishi Town[Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

Secretary of Jishi Town Gu Canhong told CRI, "This is a great honor for us to introduce our local specialties to Beijing citizens, by doing this, we would like to make more friends and increase our farmers' incomes."

According to a Beijing Fenghuang Suyuan hotel manager, this year representatives from 8 towns and cities in Jiangsu are expected to visit the capital and present their gourmet specialties. The manager says that even more towns will be in attendance next year.

Beijing Phoenix Suyuan Hotel: No.3 Guang An Men Wai St.