When you come to Hangzhou, in addition to enjoying the beautiful scenery of West Lake and strolling through the classical gardens, there is a traditional delicacy worth making a special trip to taste – Dongpo Pork .

The bright red pork belly, slow-cooked for a long time, is rich yet not greasy, tender to the touch, with a rich aroma of soy sauce intertwined with the meat's fragrance. A seemingly ordinary piece of braised pork belly carries a unique story about Chinese literati, food, and life.

🍖 A delicious dish connects a legendary writer

The name Dongpo pork is closely related to Su Shi, a famous writer from the Northern Song Dynasty in China.

Su Shi, also known as "Dongpo Jushi," was not only an outstanding writer but also a cultural figure who loved life and enjoyed studying food.

Legend has it that during his time serving in local government, Su Shi had a unique way of cooking pork. By simmering it over low heat, the pork became tender and flavorful, gradually evolving into the widely popular "Dongpo Pork".

Today, Dongpo pork has become one of the most representative delicacies in traditional Chinese cuisine.

🍷 The flavors of the East, simmered over low heat

Traditional Dongpo pork is usually made with alternating layers of fat and lean pork belly. After being cut into chunks, blanched, and seasoned, it is simmered over low heat for a relatively long time.

After being stewed for a long time, the meat becomes very tender and requires almost no chewing.

The bright red color, rich soy sauce aroma, and tender texture are the most unforgettable characteristics of Dongpo pork.

For foreign tourists, this is also a great opportunity to learn about traditional Chinese cooking concepts— Chinese cuisine not only pursues flavor, but also attaches great importance to time and heat control.

🌿 Savor the flavors of Jiangnan by West Lake

Dongpo pork is especially suitable for combining with a travel experience in Hangzhou.

During the day, stroll along West Lake and admire the Broken Bridge, Su Causeway and Leifeng Pagoda; feel the gentleness and tranquility of Jiangnan along the lakeside.

In the evening, I went into a traditional Hangzhou restaurant and ordered a plate of Dongpo pork.

When the glossy, tender chunks of meat are served, you'll discover that Hangzhou's cuisine, like its landscape, is gentle and delicate, yet possesses a profound cultural heritage.

✨ Why should foreign tourists try Dongpo pork?

• 🥩 Enjoy classic Chinese traditional dishes
• 📖 Learn about Su Shi and ancient Chinese literati culture
• 🍲 Experience traditional Chinese slow-cooking cooking methods
• 🌿 Combining gourmet food with a trip to Hangzhou's West Lake
• 🇨🇳 Experience the fusion of Chinese cuisine and history.
• 📸 Experience a traditional dining table with oriental characteristics

❤️ A dish of Dongpo pork, a story of Jiangnan

Travel is not just about finding beautiful scenery, but also about finding the unique flavor of a place.

West Lake evokes the gentleness of Hangzhou, classical gardens showcase the elegance of Jiangnan, while Dongpo pork allows you to get to know a Chinese scholar from a thousand years ago and the Eastern aesthetics he represents, starting with a meal.

Come to Hangzhou, see West Lake, and savor a piece of Dongpo pork.

Let nature, history, and cuisine meet in this meal.

Dongpo pork—a Jiangnan flavor slow-cooked over a low flame, is also a culinary memory left to us by Chinese history.