Taste Hangzhou through its local dishes, seasonal ingredients and Longjing tea.
A taste of Zhejiang
Hangzhou cuisine is part of Zhejiang’s culinary tradition. Dishes often balance savoury and gently sweet flavours, with fish, pork, vegetables and seasonal produce all playing a role. The city also offers regional Chinese and international cooking.
Dishes to discover
Dongpo pork: slowly braised pork belly with a rich sauce.
Longjing shrimp: shrimp paired with the flavour of Longjing tea.
West Lake fish in vinegar sauce: a characteristic sweet-sour preparation.
Beggar’s chicken and Sister Song’s fish soup: dishes associated with local culinary stories.
Bamboo shoots: a seasonal ingredient worth looking for in spring. Stories linking dishes to famous people are part of food culture; they are not all documented origins.
Tea and dining
Longjing, or Dragon Well, is the green tea most closely associated with Hangzhou. Enjoy a tasting, ask how it is brewed, and visit the tea museum to understand the craft.
Ask about ingredients if you have allergies or dietary requirements. Recipes vary, and a dish name alone does not guarantee the absence of nuts, shellfish or other allergens.
