Unlock Nantong's time-honored cuisine: Chongchuan district

All-vegetarian tea snacks by Xu Lixin. [Photo/WeChat account: ntwgx6]

As the first rays of morning sunlight sweep over the eaves of the ancient Langshan Temple, enticing aromas have already started to drift from the old establishments in the alleys of Chongchuan district, Nantong.

From the fragrant aroma of all-vegetarian tea snacks to the soft, dense Siyi glutinous rice cakes, and the savory soy sauce flavor of Langshan roast chicken, these three intangible cultural heritage cuisines create a rich tapestry of Nantong's culinary culture.

Xu Lixin, a craftsperson of Nantong-style all-vegetarian tea snack-making, comes from a family that has preserved this tradition for six generations at the foot of Langshan Mountain. Every crispy pastry involves over 10 steps, such as kneading dough, wrapping, rolling, and baking. The master's expertise enables the pastry to unfold into 18 ultra-thin, cicada-wing-like layers when soaked in warm water.

Glutinous rice cakes from Siyi Glutinous Rice Cake Shop. [Photo/WeChat account: ntwgx6]

Near the Changqiao Bridge, the century-old Siyi Glutinous Rice Cake Shop shines warmly in the morning sun. Each morning, the artisans grind overnight-soaked glutinous rice into fine powder. After wet grinding and careful sieving, the mixture is steamed twice, producing a variety of treats such as qingtuan, fruit rice cakes, and Chongyang cakes, which fill the bamboo steamers one after another. Every Qingming Festival, Nantong residents queue up to buy qingtuan, relishing the taste of spring and preserving a cherished tradition.

Roast chicken from Gu Fengxing Langshan Roast Chicken Workshop. [Photo/WeChat account: ntwgx6]

At Gu Fengxing Langshan Roast Chicken Workshop in Tangzha Ancient Town, third-generation heir Gu Hao submerges whole chickens into a rich, amber-colored aged broth. This broth, passed down for over 40 years, is replenished daily with pork bones and chicken frames, infused with the flavors of eight spices such as tangerine peel and cinnamon. The roast chicken, brushed with honey water and deep-fried, takes on the appearance of a gold ingot, symbolizing Nantong residents' hopes for a prosperous life.