Lichun, the start of spring falls on February 8 this year. In celebration of the arrival of spring, Chinese people will eat different delicacies. We have rounded up these delicaceis for you. Follow us to see what Chinese people to eat on start of spring.
※Spring Pancakes
Spring pancake is a traditional Chinese food popular in northern China. It originated in the Jin Dynasty (265-420) and has prospered since the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
People eat spring pancakes on the day of “Lichun”, the first of the 24 solar terms in Chinese lunar calendar, to celebrate the beginning of the spring. Generally, the pancake is wrapped around fresh vegetables and meat, in wish for good luck all year long. In the Qing Dynasty, spring pancakes became a fried pancake wrapped with fillings of ham, chicken, pork, black dates, scallions, walnuts and sugar.
Recommended Restaurants:
Hello Coarse Cereals Spring Pancake
The spring pancake at Hello is unique with five flavors including mung bean, millet, purple sweet potato, back rice and original taste, thus showing different colors. A great variety of side dishes are served with it, such as stir-fried eggs, smoked meat, Jingjiangrousi (Sauteed Shredded Pork in Sweet Bean Sauce), as well as the iconic Beijing cuisine, Peking duck.
Address: 4F, BHG Hualian Shopping Mall, No. 14, Chengnanjiayuan Yichengyuan, Fengtai District北京市丰台区城南嘉园益城园14号华联商厦1-2层BHG华联百货4层
Ban She Ji Spring Pancake
This boutique pancake restaurant features easy and cozy decoration making tasty spring pancake. It looks like a cafe rather than a restaurant. The spring pancake set ranges from 20 yuan to 30 yuan, boasting various fillings and chewy wrappings.
Address: F2 #1 Building Jianwai SOHO, Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing北京市朝阳区光华路建外SOHO东区1号楼二层
Lao Lao Jia Spring Pancake
It's a quite hot restaurant among local Beijingers. The spring pancakes are sold in couple. The wrapping is thin but tasty. In addition to spring pancakes, Beijing style dishes are worthy to try as well, like spicy salted duck, spiced beef and spicy pork.
Address: #54 Jiaoda East Road, Haidian District, Beijing 北京市海淀区交大东路54号
※Spring Rolls
Spring rolls are a large variety of filled, rolled appetizers or dim sum. The name is a literal translation of the Chinese chun juan (春卷 'spring roll'). The kind of wrapper, fillings, and cooking technique used, as well as the name, vary considerably within this large area, depending on the region's culture. The seasonal food consumed during the spring, featuring different shapes, sizes and fillings have been popular in Beijing for centuries. At Huguosi Snack, a Beijing restaurant chain known for traditional food, more than 35,000 spring rolls were sold through its 50 outlets. These rolls are stuffed with mashed beans or vegetables. Supermarkets are overflowing with bean sprouts at this time of year, the most popular stuffing.
Recommended Restaurants:
Jin Ding Xuan
Perched beside the Lama Temple, the three-story building is hard to be ignored. Jin Ding Xuan, a hot restaurant specializes in all kinds of Cantonese style dim sums, opens for 24 hours every day.
Address: South Gate of Temple of Earth, Hepingli West Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 北京市东城区和平里西街地坛南门
Huguosi Snack
Hu Guo Si Snack is a time-honored brand specializing a great vairety of yummy and cheep Beijing-style snacks like miancha, fried butter cake, glutinous rice ball, rolling soybean cake and douzhir etc. Spring roll of Huguosi Snack is quite popular as well, with its crispy wrapping and tasty fillings. The price is affordable as well.
Address: #93 Huguosi Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing北京市护国寺大街93号(人民剧场对面)
4 Corners
It is a Vietnam style restaurant boasting all kinds of authentic Vietnam cuisine including pizza, Vietnam pancake and spring rolls. The spring rolls are made from fresh and rich fillings like pork, shrimp meat, crab meat, carrot and agaric.
Address: #27 Dashibei Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing 北京市西城区大石碑胡同27号
※Jiaozi
Jiaozi are a kind of Chinese dumpling, commonly eaten in China. They are one of the major foods eaten during the cold weather. They typically consist of a ground meat or vegetable filling wrapped into a thinly rolled piece of dough, which is then sealed by pressing the edges together.
Xianlaoman Dumpling
Although Xianlaoman Dumpling in Beijing is no match for those time-honored brands like Quanjude in reputation, it does gain a reputation among dumpling lovers in Beijing. Apart from an extensive selection of dumpling flavors, it, indeed living up to its name, “Xianlaoman”, features thin wrappers, ample fillings and rich soup. Its many kinds of dumplings with unique flavors like standout dumplings and Laoman dumplings are sought-after among diners.
Address: No. 316 Dongsi Avenue North, Dongcheng District, Beijing北京市东城区东四大街316号
Da Qing Hua Dumpling (Fried Dumplings)
When you are looking for a place for a gathering, head to Da Qing Hua Dumpling. The deals are pretty good here. Fitting its reputation as an authentic restaurant of northeast China, its decor is brimming with Qing’s characteristics. Its blue and white porcelains, Eight Banners flags and waiters in Qing’s clothes would impress you. And its menu is also full with distinctive dishes of northeast China.
Although it hasn’t exactly had a reputation as a dumpling restaurant, its fried dumpling are popular. This dumpling features golden crispy wrapper and ample meat fillings with mouth-watering Chinese chives.
Address: Building 1-2, No. 8 Baizhifang West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing. 北京市西城区白纸坊西街8号
