Xiaolongbao
The definitive Shanghai food experience — 16 perfect pleats, steaming hot soup inside
Intro
Xiaolongbao — Shanghai soup dumplings — are one of China's most beloved foods and Shanghai's most iconic culinary creation. Each dumpling contains a carefully folded parcel of minced pork and a small cube of aspic gelatin; when steamed, the gelatin melts into a rich soup broth trapped inside the thin skin. The correct technique: place in a spoon, bite a small hole in the skin, sip the soup, then eat the dumpling. The gold standard is Din Tai Fung (Taiwanese chain, consistent quality) but locals swear by Jia Jia Tang Bao and Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant for the most authentic version.
Best Time to Visit
Highlights
Getting There
Tickets & Entry
Practical Tips
Expect queues at popular spots. Nanxiang in Yu Garden and Jia Jia Tang Bao on Huanghe Road are the two most celebrated local spots. Din Tai Fung in Xintiandi is excellent and has English menus.
More in Shanghai
The Bund
Shanghai's most iconic promenade — colonial grandeur facing a futuristic skyline across the Huangpu River
Yu Garden
Yu Garden — a Ming Dynasty oasis in the heart of old Shanghai
French Concession
Tree-lined streets, Art Deco villas, and the best cafés in China — Shanghai's most liveable neighbourhood
FAQ
Quick Facts
| Best time | Year-round |