The Jiangnan region — Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou and the watery lands south of the Yangtze — is known for delicate, slightly sweet dishes that prize freshness and presentation.

What to order

• Xiaolongbao (小笼包) — soup dumplings: pierce the skin, sip the broth, then eat. A Shanghai icon.
• Red-braised pork (红烧肉) — glossy, melt-in-the-mouth belly in soy and sugar.
• Shengjianbao — pan-fried pork buns with crispy bottoms.
• West Lake fish in vinegar — a delicate Hangzhou classic.
• Drunken chicken and hairy crab (autumn) for the adventurous.

Where to eat it

Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou are the heartland — pair it with the Jiangnan water towns route.

Tips

• Soup dumplings are hot inside — let them cool a moment.
• The gentle sweetness is intentional, not a mistake.
• Hairy crab is a seasonal autumn delicacy worth timing a trip around.