As is known to all, Shanghai is an open city where diversified dishes can be found here. Not only almost all Chinese cuisines flow into the metropolis, but also exotic flavour foods are available. Furthermore, Benbang cuisine, a special cuisine which combines the essences of cuisines oriental and occidental, must be tried whenever travelers visit the bustling city. Snacks of Shanghai, however, can satisfy your palate even at a not high price. As long as the topics of food of Shanghai are touched upon, it is impossible to omit the relevant culture. Summarily, the culture of Shanghai food can be condensed to sophistication. Either dining environment, dinnerware, raw materials or the dishes presented on the table are sophisticated.

Benbang Cuisine(本帮菜)

Benbang cuisine is short for Shanghai Benbang local dish, which features much oil, soybean sauce, and mild and fresh taste. Chefs in shanghai are adept at braising, stewing and using sugar, but later so as to adapt the cuisine to the light flavour of the locals, they begin to make dishes mild and refreshing. At the beginning, Benbang cuisine was a commonplace in the ordinary people’s daily life; however, as it kept on assimilating the essence of Suzhou cuisine and Wuxi cuisine, in the middle of 1900s, Benbang cuisine developed its features – fresh materials, numerous variety, and mild flavour.

Nanxiang Steamed Buns (南翔小笼包)

As traditional snacks in Shanghai, Nanxiang steamed buns have a history of more than a hundred years’ history. The stuffing is made from sandwich meat, added bruised ginger, pork skin, salt, soy sauce, sugar and water. However, the wrapper is made from azymic refined flour. After steaming, the buns look like pagodas, transparent and exquisite. It would be wonderful if a soup of egg is tried at the same time!!

Chinese Mitten Crab (大闸蟹)

Chinese mitten crab is to Shanghai people what fish filets in hot chili oil is to Sichuan people. According to incomplete statistics, when Chinese mitten crabs come into season, the locals will consume 12.5 crabs on average per person. From the perspective of food culture of Shanghai, the more sophisticated the entertainment of friends is, the sincerer the host is. Chinese mitten crab is just a case in point. Not only is it appealing but also it takes you great efforts to consume it!