Iconic Huangpu tourist cruises get a tasty makeover
A happy Dragon with a crab dish
Delicious lobster
A snack in the shape of swans
Tasty prawns
Cruise tours on the Huangpu River are being given a gourmet and cultural touch with the launch of a food and culture festival to make cruises on the iconic river a world-class attraction.
A ship's banquet featuring the flavors of Jiangnan -- the areas south of the Yangtze River -- was showcased on the No. 1 Sightseeing Cruise Ship on Friday. The dishes are exquisitely made, focusing on highlighting the original flavor of the ingredients.
These include Huaiyang shizitou (stewed meatballs) and Shaoxing stinky tofu (choudoufu), and they are served by time-honored restaurants.
Clay teapots and intangible cultural heritages such as jade carvings are also on display.
Traditional performances like cross talk, pingtan (musical storytelling) and guzheng, or Chinese zither, are also part of the festival.
The festival will last till September 30, and will be hosted on several cruise ships on the river.
The aim is to make Huangpu River cruise tour experiences more diversified than just purely sightseeing, and turn the ships into floating restaurants, teahouses and theaters, said the operator, Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise Co.
Tourists are able to savor delicacies and appreciate different kinds of performances such as musical plays on the ships, it said.
The dragon-shaped No. 1 Sightseeing Cruise Ship, the biggest vessel of its kind on the Huangpu River, can accommodate 1,000 passengers.
During the two-hour tour, tourists can appreciate the magnificent night view of Lujiazui and the Bund.
