Residents of Shanghai can now savor flavors from across the country without traveling far. A bustling national specialty agricultural products fair opened on the morning of March 31st in Changshou Park, Putuo District. Over 60 distinctive stalls lined up, offering a comprehensive array of authentic local goods, including grains, oils, dried foods, fresh fruits, vegetables, and regional snacks.
The fair will run until April 10th, conveniently spanning the Qingming Festival holiday, allowing citizens ample time for holiday shopping and stocking up. The park was filled with shoppers carrying bags. Specialties such as wild mushrooms from Yunnan, aged vinegar from Shanxi, and organic nuts from Xinjiang were available for one-stop shopping. "I prefer these locally produced agricultural by-products; they are trustworthy and have an authentic taste," said a shopper, Hu Hua, while selecting dried goods.
One standout product was "Northeastern Baked Gluten." While Shanghainese are familiar with their own sweet and rich Si Xi Kao Fu, the Northeastern buckwheat version attracted attention for its healthier profile. A vendor explained, "This is genuine Northeastern specialty, with buckwheat gluten and baked gluten supplied directly from the manufacturer, cutting out middlemen." Shopper Xu Hong noted, "Shanghai-style baked gluten is somewhat like cake sponge, while the Northeastern version is chewier because of the buckwheat."
Adjacent to the gluten stall, the Shandong Jiao Bing (crispy pancake) booth was highly popular, with its golden, crispy, and fragrant pancakes receiving unanimous praise from tasters, leading to many on-the-spot purchases. The Xinjiang fruit stall was equally busy, with apple-shaped "Plateau Snow Mountain Red" pears and palm-sized Tibetan black pears being the most sought-after. The vendor reported that the Tibetan black pears were selling rapidly, with multiple boxes sold in just the morning.
"I've never seen this type of pear before. I tried it out of curiosity, and the taste is indeed excellent," said resident Wang Chen, who bought several pounds to try. "It's more delicate, tender, and juicier than the pears we have in Shanghai. Although slightly more expensive, it's worth a try."
The fair also attracted out-of-town visitors. A young calligrapher from Huangshan City, Mr. Ji, who was in Shanghai for an urban aesthetics festival, left with a full bag of purchases. "The agricultural products are of good quality and affordable. I bought nearly ten different national specialties for less than 300 yuan. The market format is very convenient and tourist-friendly," he said.
According to the organizers, the fair aims to create a "national shopping experience at your doorstep." It not only provides a convenient procurement channel for Shanghai residents, meeting their demand for diverse local agricultural products, but also offers a platform for high-quality products from across the country to be displayed and sold. This initiative helps bring more rural goods into the city, injecting "spring momentum" into rural revitalization.
Service Information: National Specialty Agricultural Products Shanghai Fair Dates: Until April 10th Hours: Daily, 8:00 - 20:00 Transportation: Metro Line 7 or 13, Changshou Road Station
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