The Rich Culinary Heritage of Suzhou Suzhou is a city is renowned for its attractive stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens which have contributed to its reputation as a place of culture and refinement. Located in Jiangsu Province on China's east coast, Suzhou is known as the "Oriental Venice", a city completely surrounded by water. With the Yangtze River to the north, Lake Taihu to the west and bisected by the famous Grand Canal, Suzhou has long been called a "land of milk and honey" as its mild climate and fertile landscape has led to an abundance of agricultural produce and a flourishing economy. Suzhou's unique geography and rich history have led to a unique cuisine that is rightly celebrated throughout China and the entire world. Each of these culinary specialties has its own story to tell. Meat dumplings in soup are eaten in midwinter to signify the "chaos before the world began" (混沌世界), and as a comfort food to get through the long, dark winter days, while a simple bowl of noodles represents longevity and the hope of many offspring. Qing-tuan-zi(青團子), green glutinous rice balls, respect the memory of the ancient hero Da Yu who prevented floods and saved many lives 4,000 years ago. Ding-sheng-gao(定勝糕), sweet steamed buns with bean paste stuffing, reminds people that they had been an important food for local heroes resisting invasion by neighboring nomadic tribes during the Jin Period (ad 1115-1234). Zongzi (糉子), glutinous rice with fillings wrapped in leaves, tells the story of the great Wu Zixu, who turned the city of Suzhou into the state of Wu during the Zhou dynasty (1100-221 bc). New Year Cake (年糕), made of glutinous rice, was reputed to have been used as cement to build the ancient city walls of the city. A sweet rice wine (dong-niang-jiu,冬釀酒) brewed with osmanthus flowers is traditionally drunk on Chinese New Year Eve, a custom handed down by the founder of the city. It is also said that this wine was left as a parting gift by the legendary Wu Gang before being punished for chopping sweet osmanthus on the moon. The steadfast love between the Shepherd Boy and the Weaving Girl of Chinese legend is celebrated by eating tiny delicate snacks prepared in their honor and by praying to them for weaving skills. Suzhou has been an important centre for China's silk industry and continues to hold that prominent position today. Suzhou mooncakes, pastries with unique textures and delicious fillings, were once a way of passing messages by rebels to frighten the Mongolian rulers during the Yuan dynasty (ad 1279-368). Deep-fried dough sticks, a Chinese specialty usually eaten at breakfast, is a reminder of the notorious traitor Qin Kuai in the Song dynasty (ad 960-1279). A bitter lesson of history is contained in a bowl of taro soup for this tells us of the time Wang Man usurped power during the Han dynasty. Eight Treasures Porridge (八寶粥) reminds us of Emperor Kangxi's (ad 1662-1722) adventures in Suzhou. Fang's Cake (大方糕), a large white steamed bun with a filling was a special delicacy of Fang, a rich official and his family. This cake helped kindle a romance between the official's daughter and a poor young man. Steamed rice mixed with a black herbal juice (wu-mi-fan,烏米飯) and rice porridge boiled with nuts and cereal (la-bao-zhou, 臘八粥) are traditional foods used to celebrate Buddha's birthday and his enlightenment. Special cakes are also used as offerings at Taoist festivals during temple fairs and the Double Ninth Festival. With such history embodied in its food, no wonder the past remains very much alive in Suzhou.