New tastes of the traditional Zongzi in Beijing

Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional celebration in China. It falls on the fifth day of the fifth month in the lunar Chinese calendar and commemorates the famous Chinese scholar Qu Yuan. The activities include eating Zongzi (rice dumpling), drinking realgar wine, and racing dragon boats.

Zongzi is essential for the festival. In early times, it was only glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed or other plant leaves and tied with colored thread, but now the fillings are more diversified, including jujube and bean paste, fresh meat, and ham and egg yolk. Instead of making Zongzi themselves, now people often go to shops to buy whatever stuff they want. Here we introduce some unique Zongzi available in Beijing restaurants.

Eating Thai-style Zongzi in the Little Bangkok

Thai-style Zongzi is known for its leaves, unlike the stuffing that Chinese Zongzi is known for. Pandan leaves give the food a delicate fragrance. Such Zongzi is made by soaking sticky rice in Pandan leaves and water and then wrapping it with the leaves. It is the best choice for people who love light, sweet food.

Black glutinous rice and red bean Zongzi also offer veritable Thai-style flavor. The main ingredient, black glutinous rice, comes from Thailand. Its nutrient value is double that of sticky rice. It can be mixed with palm sugar, making a classic dessert. Little Bangkok also offers salted meat Zongzi, peanut Zongzi and sausage Zongzi.

Per capita consumption: 80 yuan

Address: No. 28, North Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District

Telephone: 010-8690 2382/6468 6566

How to get there: Take bus No. 355, 365, 619, 68, 420, 676 or 673

Tasting the original Hunan flavor in Changxianghu

It is said that the Miluo River in Hunan Province is the birthplace of Zongzi. Cooks in this restaurant seek its original taste and flavor. One style you can’t miss is Hunan-preserved ham Zongzi, which is the most traditional variety. Smoked meat and sticky rice are wrapped in bamboo leaves, combining the crispiness of meat and the softness of sticky rice. Spare rib and red bean Zongzi is also a specialty. Changxianghui has a selection of sweet Zongzi such as lotus-nut paste Zongzi as well.

Per capita consumption: 60 yuan

Address: No. 2, Jiugulou Dajie, Dashiqiao Hutong, Xicheng District

Telephone: 010-6405 4620

How to get there: Take bus No.116, 106, 684, 420, 68, 109, 425 or 355

Trying rectangle-style Zongzi in Dingtaifeng

Dingtaifeng's Zongzi has a long history. Here, Zongzi is famous for its unique rectangle style as well as its complicated production. Leaves come from Hefeng County in Hubei Province, which is famous for its various traditional Chinese medicinal materials. It also has a strict procedure of wrapping Zongzi, making its Zongzi delicious and good-looking.

The main product at Dingtaifeng this year is double-purple Zongzi, which is made of purple yam and purple rice. This type of Zongzi is not only good looking, but it also appealingly combines the sweetness of purple yam and the softness of purple rice. It also has high nutrient value. Since purple yam contains abundant vitamins, it can combat cancer as well as shape your body.

Per capita consumption: 110 yuan

Address: No. 24, Xinyuanxili Zhongjie, Chaoyang District

Telephone: 010-6462 4502

How to get there: Take bus No. 110, 403, 120 or 823 and get off at Tayuan Village

Eating various stuffed Zongzi in Kelihuaiyangcu

The Zongzi here is famous for its variety of stuffing, such as salted duck egg and meat, Chinese chestnut and meat, and curry beef. Customers can choose from more than 10 flavors. Jujube paste and sweetened bean paste is the best choice for lovers, which offers unforgettably sweet aromas.

Per capita consumption: 120 yuan

Address: No.16, North Hepingli Road, Chaoyang District

Telephone: 010-8422 5577-2227/8422 3785

How to get there: Take bus No.846, 420, 425, 116 or 684

Trying vegetarian Zongzi in Gongdelin

Gongdelin is a restaurant special for vegetarians. Although many dishes have meat names, they actually contain no meat ingredients. Take sausage Zongzi as an example, it is made by soaking soybeans into fructus momordicae and secret spice water and boiling with low flame. Finally, they are wrapped in thin casings. It is tasty as well as aromatic. Purple rice and sweetened bean paste Zongzi and purple rice and little jujube Zongzi are also very popular, especially among ladies.

Per capita consumption: 80 yuan

Address: No. 2, Qianmen Dongdajie, Chongwen District

Telephone: 010-6702 0867/6511 2542

How to get there: Take bus No. 44, 9, 729, 110, 103, 104 or 723

Having Cantonese Zongzi in Jindingxuan                                  

A Cantonese style tea restaurant, the popular Jindingxuan is famous for its delicate and affordable snacks. Its Zongzi comes bigger than that in other restaurants and is very filling. One Zongzi has over 10 ingredients in the stuffing, including mung bean, lotus seed, Chinese chestnut, dried shrimp, dried scallop, belly pork and salted egg yolk. It sends forth a delicate fragrance after being made by a complex procedure. If you like light flavor, you can try eight treasures Zongzi or little jujube Zongzi.