How much do you know about Chinese shaobing?

Li Fei
One of the world's top breads according to CNN, it has so many variations that it is said you can eat a different version every day of the year and still not finish them all.
Li Fei

Shot by Ma Xuefeng. Edited by Li Fei, Ma Xuefeng. Reported by Li Fei. Subtitles by Li Fei.

How much do you know about Chinese shaobing? It has recently been selected by CNN as one of the world's top 50 breads.

Just as CNN says, bread is hard to define, so is shaobing. In China, perhaps everyone's idea of shaobing looks different. Someone says that from north to south, you can eat a different kind of shaobing every day for 365 days and still not finish them all.

Check out the video to know more interesting stories about Chinese shaobing.

If you are in Shanghai, here are some recommendations:

Jinyun shaobing

It is said to be the oldest shaobing of south China, and it's still quite popular in the city.

Every Jinyun shaobing is made on the spot. From the hand-wrapped stuffing, to getting a hot shaobing, it only takes 3 minutes.

How much do you know about Chinese <i>shaobing</i>?
Ma Xuefeng / SHINE

Jinyun Shaobing

Why is it so unique? Actually Jinyun is a place in Lishui, Zhejiang Province.

Legend has it that the origin of Jinyun shaobing can be traced back to the Yellow Emperor. The Yellow Emperor was refining elixirs at the top of ancient Jinyun Mountain. When he was hungry, he would grab a piece of dough and roast it on the furnace wall to eat. Later, after the Yellow Emperor ascended to heaven, local people imitated his furnace and baked shaobing.

The craft of making Jinyun shaobing has also been included in the Chinese national intangible cultural heritage list.

Where to buy:

How much do you know about Chinese <i>shaobing</i>?
Ma Xuefeng / SHINE

Jinyun Shaobing

Address: 211 Taixing Rd

Xiekehuang

Have you ever tried Shanghai's famous street food xiekehuang? Yes, it's also a kind of shaobing.

Although it's a modern style of shaobing, it has a history of over 100 years in Shanghai.

How much do you know about Chinese <i>shaobing</i>?
Ma Xuefeng / SHINE

Xiekehuang

Xieke, which means crab shell, refers to its shape, and also the stuffing — a mix of crab meat, pork, and vegetables. Huang means golden, which describes its color after baking.

Compared to other shaobing, its delicate pastry crust will bring you an unforgettable taste.

Where to buy:

How much do you know about Chinese <i>shaobing</i>?
Ma Xuefeng / SHINE

Wangjiasha

Address: 805 Nanjing Rd W.

Huoshao

Huoshao, a flatbread, is a main kind of shaobing in north China. It can be filled with meat and vegetables, just like a burger.

How much do you know about Chinese <i>shaobing</i>?
Ma Xuefeng / SHINE

Huoshao

The most famous one must be donkey huoshao in Hebei Province. It is prepared by filling a shaobing with shredded donkey meat and green peppers. The meat is usually served cold, and the shaobing is hot.

Where to buy:

How much do you know about Chinese <i>shaobing</i>?
Ma Xuefeng / SHINE

Hejian Donkey Huoshao

Address: 1219 Xinzha Rd

Roujiamo

In Shaanxi Province, shaobing is called mo. And roujiamo, is the one you must try.

The meat – usually a mixture of fat and lean pork that has been braised for hours – is hand-shredded and pocketed in the bread.

How much do you know about Chinese <i>shaobing</i>?
Ma Xuefeng / SHINE

Roujiamo

Where to buy:

How much do you know about Chinese <i>shaobing</i>?
Ma Xuefeng / SHINE

Jushanke

Address: 1740 Beijing Rd W.

Nang

In Xinjiang, shaobing is called nang, with a recorded history of over 2,000 years.

How much do you know about Chinese <i>shaobing</i>?
Ma Xuefeng / SHINE

Nang

Meanwhile, it is the most popular shaobing in Tang Dynasty (618-907) under another name — hubing.

How popular is it?

The Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi was a true enthusiast of hubing. He even wrote a poem "Sending hubing to Yang Wanzhou:"

Where to buy:

How much do you know about Chinese <i>shaobing</i>?
Ma Xuefeng / SHINE

Sanfengyuan

Address: 724 Weihai Rd


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