With the upcoming opening of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, traveling between these two cities has never been easier. Here is a handy guide for foodies to navigate the delicious eats. Buckle up and get ready to embark on a tasty adventure!
Shenzhen
Jia'an Village (甲岸村)
With a history of 600 years, Jia'an Village is a culinary paradise that blends time-honored eateries with trendy food. As night falls, the village's winding streets come alive with irresistible delicacies. Here, you can indulge in flavor-packed Fengshun rice rolls, dumplings with springy skins and savory fillings, as well as aromatic and crispy pineapple buns.
(Photo: Bao'an District Publicity Department of Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC)
Add.: Jia'an Village, Xin'an Sub-district, Bao'an District, Shenzhen (深圳宝安区新安街道甲岸村)
Metro: Lingzhi Station (灵芝站) on Line 5 or Xinan Park Station on Line 12 (新安公园站), Shenzhen Metro
Yantian Night Market (盐田夜市)
From around 4 pm, the streets of the Yantian Night Market will be filled with nearly a hundred food and goods stalls, offering barbecues and stir-fries, fruits, desserts, and daily necessities. The market operates until 1 am, making it a bustling late-night destination.
(Photo: Bao'an District Publicity Department of Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC)
Add.: Yantian Street, Xixiang Sub-district, Bao'an District, Shenzhen (深圳宝安区西乡街道盐田街)
Metro: Xixiang Station (西乡站) on Line 1, Shenzhen Metro
Intangible cultural heritage foods in Bao'an
Shanghe roasted ribs (上合烧骨)
These ribs are often slow-cooked in a traditional clay pot. They are savory and slightly dry, with a rich, smoky flavor but without any chewiness.
Shajing oysters (沙井蚝)
Hailed as the "Millennium Oyster Hometown," Shajing Town in Bao'an District produces plump, creamy oysters with a crisp texture, whether steamed or grilled.
(Photo: Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality)
Chishang milk tea (池上奶茶)
Chishang milk tea was upgraded from Hong Kong (Mak's) milk tea. It is crafted from eight black teas sourced from China, England, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and other places.
(Photo: Bao'an Cultural and Sports Center)
Zhongshan
Seafood in Yakou Village (崖口村)
Nestled between the mountains and the sea, Yakou Village is famous for its seafood cuisine. The Yakou wonton features a shrimp-based broth and pork and shrimp fillings seasoned with pork lard and sesame, giving off a mouthwatering aroma.
(Photo: Nanlang Fabu)
The village's seafood street is lined with restaurants that serve dishes such as typhoon shelter crab, black truffle mandarin fish balls, lobster bisque, steamed crab, and fried fish.
(Photo: Nanlang Fabu)
The Yakou clay pot rice is also a must-try dish. The smooth texture of Yakou rice combined with homemade agricultural food creates a unique flavor that you won't find elsewhere.
(Photo: Zhongshan Fabu)
Add.: Yakou Village, Nanlang Sub-district, Zhongshan (中山市南朗街道崖口村)
Hengmen crucian carp porridge (横门鲫鱼粥)
Hengmen Fishing Port, located at the junction of the Pearl River and Lingdingyang Sea, offers an abundance of seafood. Yao Rong Restaurant in Hengmen Community serves crucian carp porridge, which is popular among local diners. Fresh crucian carp is deboned and sliced, marinated to remove any fishiness, and cooked in a clay pot with white porridge until it is ready in less than 10 minutes. Some gourmets prefer to add raw fish slices at different times for varied textures.
(Photo: Zhongshan Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau)
(Photo: Nanlang Fabu)
Nanlang duck porridge (南朗鸭粥)
Nanlang Sub-district's signature dish, duck porridge, combines minced stir-fried duck meat with plain rice congee. The classic version features braised duck and fried intestines, adding a special flavor to the traditional comfort food.
(Photo: Zhongshan Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau)
(Photo: Nanlang Fabu)
Traditional snacks
Zhongshan boasts a variety of traditional snacks. Xijiangli Cake Shop's salty fried cakes are crispy on the outside and cake-like inside. Pushan Cake Shop offers sweet childhood memories with fermented red beancurd Shaobing (Chinese-style baked roll), banana cakes, and other treats. Sanziku cakes offer a refreshingly bitter and sweet taste with sweet bean paste filling, while Ludou zongzi (rice dumpling), made with salty egg yolk and pork, is tender, flavorful, and perfectly balanced between sweet and savory.
Traditional snacks in Nanlang (Photo: Zhongshan Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau)
Reporter: Holly
Poster: Mia
Editor: Monica, James
