Goat mutton festival is hot in Zhuanghang Town
People taste Zhuanghang mutton.
Mutton soup is a must at the festival.
A mutton festival began in Zhuanghang Town, Fengxian District, on Friday featuring cooking, mutton tasting and agriculture related activities.
The festival aims to revitalize local tourism and agriculture.
The history of eating mutton in sanfu, the hottest period of summer, in Zhuanghang dates back to the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). The Zhuanghang goat weighs about 30 kilograms and is both delicious and nutritious.
Mutton braised in soy sauce and plain boiled mutton are popular in Zhuanghang during the festival, which is in its 13th year.
A must-have accompaniment to Zhuanghang mutton is shaojiu, or distilled liquor, with the tradition of tasting mutton with shaojiu listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Shanghai. During the festival, liquor of Shanghai Guijiu Group and Zhuanghang pear, a famous local agricultural specialty, will also be served.
Traditional Chinese medicine regards mutton as having very warm properties, therefore mutton is more commonly consumed in winter. However, it is also believed to replenish lost energy and offers nourishment to local farmers when eaten in summer. Eateries in Zhuanghang traditionally boom in summer and are packed with diners in the season.
Authentic Zhuanghang mutton is delicious and not greasy.
Zhuanghang also boasts picturesque countryside landscapes, a unique farming culture and long farming history, as well as glamorous folk traditions and customs.
The main venue of the festival, Pandian Village of Zhuanghang, has been listed as the first batch of 16 demonstration zones for integrated tourism development in Shanghai.
The festival will run through to August 23.
A lion dance opened the festival.
