THERE'S lots to do in Jiading - slurp the famous xiaolongbao dumplings, stroll in expanded Guyi Garden, play happy farmer for a day or take in antique autos and rev head culture. Fei Lai pays a visit.
Autumn, with mild clear weather, is the perfect time to visit Jiading District and savor its famous xiaolongbao or little steamed dumplings, stroll through quaint, old towns, spend a day in the countryside with farmers, eating their home-cooked meals and picking ripe produce.
An ongoing attraction is the Shanghai International Automobile City in Anting Town where the 2009 Shanghai Automobile Culture Festival is running through the end of this month.
Another celebration is underway at Guyi Garden, a classical private garden, which was recently expanded. Festivities and exhibits run through the end of the month.
Nanxiang xiaolongbao
The steamed dumplings in Nanxiang Town are famous as a Shanghai treat, noted for being succulent, juicy and crisp, typically with a savory pork filling and a thin skin. Some have other kinds of stuffings.
They're delicious at any time of year, but the town recently went all out to promote the two-week 2009 Shanghai Nanxiang Xiaolong Festival. It began on September 15 and ended on October 9, but there's plenty more xiaolongbao to enjoy.
The festival theme was "Xiaolong Makes Life Delicious. The event included a photo exhibition, traditional opera and the 2009 Nanxiang Investment Forum.
The festival opened with a grand dining event - 10,000 people ate xiaolongbao at the same time.
Nanxiang Town is famous as a delightful place to stroll and all over the town 1,000 tables were set up to tempt visitors with the tasty treat. The aroma wafted from bamboo steamers everywhere. The key "eat streets" were in Nanxiang Old Town, Guyi Garden and Gemdale Green World. Many antique square tables were set up.
"It's cool that so many people ate xiaolongbao at the same time and same place," says Sun Ling, a local resident. "People from all walks of life come together to savor this trip. I'm struck by the magic power of this traditional snack.
Nanxiang xiaolongbao is traced back to 1871 in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and are famous throughout China. It is listed as a "China Time-Honored Brand" and the preparation is considered a bit of intangible cultural heritage.
More than 100 photographers from the photographers association in Shanghai were invited to record the great dining moment.
Xu Zhikang from the Shanghai Photographers Association remembers Nanxiang from his childhood. There's a lot more traffic and better transport, he says.
"There are new opportunities for development. I captured many happy expressions on the faces of young people and seniors."
Diners from throughout the district and throughout Shanghai slurped up the little dumplings. Couples, children and big families - people from all walks of life - poured into the little town.
Chen Bofeng, manager of a local restaurant, says xiaolongbao has improved the lives of people in Nanxiang Town.
"Xiaolongbao is an indispensable part of Nanxiang, attracting visitors and supporting tourism. The little steamed bun brings us wealth," he says.
Nanxiang Town dates back nearly 1,500 years. It was a trading town and magnet for merchants and businessmen. It used to be called Silver Nanxiang, because of its silver coins and trade.
In 1991, it was listed as one of Shanghai's famous historical and cultural towns. Now it seeks national rating as a AAAA scenic spot.
Two books, "Celebrities and Nanxiang" and "Nanxiang Xiaolong" were published during the dumpling festival. The first is a collection of stories about famous people who have lived and worked in the town, in both ancient and modern times. The second is collection of essays on the snack written by 41 people, including scholars.
Meanwhile, the Nanxiang Investment Forum drew experts, scholars, entrepreneurs, as well as town officials, to discuss building the town into a central business area in the suburbs and developing a modern service industry.
Expanded Guyi Garden
The garden is celebrating its east expansion project through the end of the month. Many seasonal flowers are in bloom and 100 species of rare plants are displayed.
Built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the garden is considered as one of the five classical gardens in Shanghai.
The rustling bamboo thickets, elaborate architecture, narrow lanes and corridors are always inviting. Locals say "Suzhou gardens are famous around the world while Guyi Garden is the best of Shanghai."
It has been open to the public for 50 years.
The garden invested 30 million yuan (US$4.4 million) to expand its area eastward by 1.5 hectares.
The new section is all about bamboo.
The garden's celebration includes photo and painting exhibitions. Photos of the garden from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) to the 1980s have been collected from the public.
Around 100 cultural relics from the past 480 years are on display.
Happy farmers' life
Huating Town is developing the nongjiale (farmer's fun) tourism, promoting "happy farmers' life" and urban getaways to nature.
It is a magnet for family expeditions and offers fishing competitions, planting, harvesting and tasting produce, pet shows and displays of agricultural products.
There's also a turtle pond, Baishu Hill, Huating Teahouse, fruit gardens, vineyards and the Heart-to-Heart Bridge. Visitors can pick grapes, taste watermelon and cantaloupe and harvest other fruits and vegetables.
It covers 86 hectares in the center of Jiading Modern Agriculture Zone in Huating Town.
Cantaloupe is famous here and the melons are sweet-sour and juicy. Organic vegetables are grown in green houses - no pesticides or chemical fertilizer are used.
A big attraction is the Koi Fish Pond filled with carp (koi in Japanese).
The brightly colored and dappled fish generally live from 50 to 70 years. One lived for 200 years, records show. The largest fish in the pond is around 1 meter long.
A more secluded spot is Maojiaqiao Village, an ecological zone with many birds, forest and rivers.
The local government is promoting "farmer's fun" tourism and has given business licenses to around 20 restaurants owned by local people.
Visitors can eat the freshest food and dishes prepared by farmers themselves.
Car culture
The Shanghai International Automobile City in Anting Town welcomes car enthusiasts and serious rev heads all year round. It's famous for advanced automobile manufacturing and a strong car culture.
The 2009 Shanghai Automobile Culture Festival is underway through the end of the month.
Visitors can make a few laps on the Formula One track, check out the vintage cars in the Auto Museum and attend auto music parties.