When the autumn wind sweeps across the river beach wetlands of Chongming Island in Shanghai, a fresh and mellow aroma fills the air — it is the signal that Chongming Hairy Crabs are ripe. As the most representative local delicacy in Shanghai, Chongming Hairy Crab is not only a National Geographical Indication Product of China, but also a window to understand the food Culture of Jiangnan. For foreign visitors coming from afar, a Chongming trip centered on hairy crabs allows you to taste the gifts of nature and immerse yourself in the ecology and fireworks of suburban Shanghai.
Chongming Hairy Crab, also known as Chinese Mitten Crab and Chongming Clear Water Crab, gets its name from the dense fine hairs on its two large claws. It has distinct characteristics of “green back, white belly, golden claws and yellow hairs”. Compared with hairy crabs in other regions, it is smaller and more exquisite, but has the unique advantage of “thin shell, tender meat, full cream and rich roe”. The female crab’s roe is plump and golden, with a soft and sweet taste in the mouth; the male crab’s cream is as white as jade, rich in fat flavor and not greasy, and each bite reveals the natural freshness of the salt-fresh water interweaving at the mouth of the Yangtze River. What’s more, Chongming Hairy Crab is rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus and various vitamins, with high nutritional value. It is not only a delicious delicacy, but also a nourishing food.
To taste the most authentic Chongming Hairy Crab, it is crucial to choose the right time. Every year from September to November is the best crab tasting season. Among them, the female crabs in the ninth lunar month (around October in the Gregorian calendar) have the fullest roe, and the male crabs in the tenth lunar month (around November in the Gregorian calendar) have the richest cream. Coming at this time, you can encounter the peak flavor of hairy crabs. In addition, since 2008, Chongming has held a one-month “Chongming Hairy Crab Festival” every year in conjunction with the Cultural Tourism Festival. During the festival, there will be crab catching ceremonies, crab Culture exhibitions, tens of thousands of people tasting crabs and other activities. Foreign visitors can immerse themselves in the charm of crab culture and witness the lively scene of crab farmers catching hairy crabs.
For foreign visitors, choosing a suitable crab tasting location can make the crab tasting trip more distinctive. Chongming Island is dotted with authentic crab villages and farmhouses, among which Laomao Crab Village and Lvhua Farmhouse are the most recommended. Laomao Crab Village is located at No. 118 Yingchen Highway, Chenjia Town, Chongming District. It is a characteristic shop focusing on Chongming Clear Water Hairy Crabs. Each crab is fished and sTeamed on the spot to retain the original flavor to the greatest extent. With the special ginger vinegar sauce, the freshness is doubled. The per capita consumption is about 150 yuan, and you can also taste local farm dishes such as braised pork and caotou quantou. Lvhua Farmhouse is located on Jianzha Road, Lvgang Village, Lvhua Town. It is a 270-degree lake view restaurant with all self-produced and sold ingredients. In addition to hairy crabs, local specialties such as braised lamb and shredded golden melon stir-fried with edamame are also highly praised. Here, you can enjoy the lake view and taste the fresh crab, with a full sense of atmosphere.
Transportation to Chongming Island is very convenient, and foreign visitors can choose the appropriate way according to their own situation. Starting from downtown Shanghai, self-driving is the most convenient choice. Take the Yangtze River Tunnel and Bridge, the whole journey is about 1.5 hours, and the one-way toll is about 50 yuan. Along the way, you can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Yangtze River Tunnel and Bridge. If you choose public transportation, you can take Metro Line 1 to Wenshui Road Station, then transfer to the Shenchong Line high-speed bus to reach Chongming Island directly; you can also take a passenger ship from Baoyang Road Wharf to Chongming South Gate or Bao Town, with a voyage of about 45 minutes to 1 hour, enjoying the river view all the way, which is quite unique. After arriving at Chongming Island, the internal transportation is also convenient. You can rent a bicycle to travel around, especially suitable for riding around Dongping National Forest Park; you can also take a taxi or online car-hailing to go to various crab villages and scenic spots, and the waiting time may be a little longer in remote areas.
In addition to tasting crabs, foreign visitors can also visit the beautiful scenery of Chongming Island and feel the unique charm of the ecological island. Chongming Island is the third largest island in China and the largest estuarine alluvial island in China, with an excellent ecological environment and the reputation of “Gateway to the Yangtze River, Yingzhou in the East China Sea”. Dongtan Wetland is a paradise for bird watching. Every autumn and winter, a large number of migratory birds inhabit here. Walking on the wetland plank road, you can not only enjoy the Natural Scenery of swaying reeds, but also see the vivid scene of migratory birds flying. Xisha Pearl Lake is a natural lake with clear water and lush surrounding vegetation. You can take a cruise to visit the lake, or walk and have a picnic by the lake to enjoy a pleasant time. In addition, Dongping National Forest Park has a very high vegetation coverage rate, which is a natural “oxygen bar”, suitable for cycling and camping, and feeling the tranquility away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Finally, here are some crab tasting tips for foreign visitors to help you better enjoy the delicious food. When choosing hairy crabs, you can follow the principles of “looking at the shell, looking at the navel, looking at the crab feet and looking at the vitality”: crabs with dark green and shiny shells, protruding navels, firm crab feet and dense hairs, which can quickly flip back when turned over, are fat and fresh good crabs. When eating, it is recommended to sTeam them. Put them in cold water, add ginger slices, scallions and a little rice wine, which can not only remove the fishy smell, but also retain the freshness of the crab. It should be noted that crabs are cold in nature and should not be eaten on an empty stomach. Eating with ginger vinegar sauce or rice wine can neutralize the cold nature; at the same time, do not eat them with persimmons, tea or beer. People with sensitive skin, high cholesterol and pregnant women should not eat them. If you can’t finish them temporarily, you can tie the crabs, put them in the refrigerator for cold storage, cover them with a wet towel, or put them in a plastic bucket with water to keep them moist, which can be stored for 3-5 days.
A trip to Chongming Hairy Crab can not only let you taste the most delicious flavor of Jiangnan, but also feel the ecology and humanity of suburban Shanghai. With this guide, take advantage of the beautiful autumn wind to come to Chongming Island for a crab feast and unlock the unique flavor and beautiful time belonging to Shanghai.
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