Sun-dried vegetables, one of Shaoxing’s food specialties, are fragrant and have a pleasant aftertaste. Available all over the city, they make a great gift for any gastronome.

With a history of 2500 years, Shaoxing yellow rice wine is a favourite of many Chinese recipe books worldwide. The taste is so mild that non-drinkers will have no problems getting it down. Just beware the aftereffects! When drinking yellow wine, don’t forget to have a bowl of aniseed flavored beans to hand. The beans play a part in Lu Xun’s “The Story of Kong Yiji”.