The traditional Chinese Spring Festival will fall on Feb.1 this year. It is a custom for Chinese people to prepare festive goods ahead of the festival, which include food, clothing, gifts and so on. This article will show you the must-have food for Wuhan locals during the most import festival in China.
As the Spring Festival is approaching, people in Wuhan queue to buy fried meat balls at the Xuesong Road in Hankou District. (Photo source: Hubei Daily)
1. Fried meat ball
Wuhan locals like fried meat balls that are half-fat and half-thin, crispy outside and tender inside. The savoury and freshly fried meat balls are the most indispensable food for people in the city during the Spring Festival.
2. Choy sum (in Chinese pinyin: cài tái)
Sauteed choy sum, sauteed choy sum with bacon, sauteed choy sum with sausages..., for Wuhan people, choy sum is a necessity in winter.
3. Dousi (mungbean and rice noodles)
Dousi is made of mung beans and rice. In order to preserve it for longer time, people will shred and dry it. Despite its plain look, it is a must-have good for Wuhan people during Spring Festival.
4. Wangji chicken soup
Wangji chicken soup is rich in nutrition and is suitable for all ages. The chicken soup stewed in pottery jar now has more abundant tastes.
5. Braised preserved duck
Braised preserved duck is an indispensable delicacy for Xinzhou people during the Spring Festival. It has won the gold medal for four consecutive years at the Wuhan Food Fair and was awarded the certification trademark of National Geographic Indicationsin 2018.
6. Fish noodles
The fish noodles originated from the Qing Dynasty(from 1644 to 1912) . It is widely welcomed by Wuhan locals. It was awarded the certification trademark of National Geographic Indications in 2012.
7. Stewed marinated beef
Thanks to good ingredients, special formulas and unique craftsmanship, the stewed marinated beefis must-have food on the table of Wuhan locals during the Spring Festival.
8. Sugar painting
Sugar paintingis a traditional folk handicraft, which is made of sugar. It is reviewed as both sugar and panting to view or eat. It can be seen on any temple fair, market fair or in a park during the Spring Festival.
9. Allium chinense (in Chinese pinyin: jiào tou)
Allium chinenseis famous throughout the country for its functions of increasing appetite, aiding digestion, and strengthening the spleen and stomach.
Winter is a perfect time to harvest dried salted fish and meat for Hubei people. Wuhan locals prefer to clean and debone grass carp before pickling and drying them. After a period of air-seasoning, the fish tastes deliciously salty and tender inside. You can find it on any Wuhan local’s table during Spring Festival.
(en.hubei.gov.cn by Wen Panyi and Ruan Xinqi)
