Chinese Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon Boat Festival of 2014 falls on June 2. Most Chinese festivals include the eating of a particular food among their customs and the Dragon Boat Festival is no exception. Traditionally eaten on the day would go to zongzi, they are pyramidal, bamboo-wrapped packets of steamed glutinous rice with sweet or savory filling.

Shanghai traditional style Zongzi

Each region of China has its own special form of zongzi.In Shanghai, zongzi filling with pork soaked in soy sauce in the middle of the glutinous rice. The best Shanghai zongzi are actually from a nearby town called Jiangxing and many locals still make the 45-minute trek by car to pick up them up for the holiday. As for where you can get the best zongzi in town, Wu Fang Zhai is famous for their Jiaxing-style zongzi. 
Wu Fang Zhai : 28 Yunnan Nan Lu, near Yan’an Zhong Lu, Shanghai
+86 21 6311 5001, ＋86 21 6328 6871

The most creative Shanghai zongzi

1. Rice-skinned mango zongzi

  






Coming in four contemporary flavors -- mango, mocha, coffee, and green tea with red bean -- Starbucks’ Ice Star Rice Dumpling is smaller than traditional rice triangles, and looks far more appetizing.

101 Yuyuan Lu, near Fuyou Lu 
+86 21 6373 0110

2. Lotus paste Zongzi

Wrapped in fresh and fragrant leaves, the lotus paste filling is sweet, but not greasy, making it a perfect Dragon Boat dessert.

18 Daxing Lu, near Lujiabang Lu 

 +86 21 6345 9888

3. Corn and sticky rice zongzi 

Gold corn kernels are mixed with the colorful wuchang rice, a specialty rice from northeastern China, giving this dumpling a eye-popping color clash. In addition to the light taste, this zongzi is made with healthy, whole coarse grains, making it popular among waistline-conscious snackers.

18 Daxing Lu, near Lujiabang Lu 

 +86 21 6345 9888