Jiangyin is located at the northern end of Taihu Plain in the Yangtze River Delta, bordering the Yangtze River in the north, Taihu Lake in the south, Zhangjiagang and Changshu in the east and Changzhou and Wujin in the west. It is shaped like a big goldfish. It is this unique geographical location that brings Jiangyin's famous "Three Freshness of the Yangtze River"-shad, swordfish and puffer fish. Shad, one of the rare freshwater fish, goes upstream from the coast from May to June every year, and is listed as the first of the four famous fish in China, namely shad, A (Chinese sturgeon), pomfret and yellow croaker. Every year from March to April, swordfish will appear on the table of every household in Jiangyin, and steamed swordfish is my favorite. Steamed saury does not need to be scaled, put a few seasonings and a few slices of ginger. Steamed saury is delicate and delicious, but be careful, there are many fishbones in saury. Unfortunately, in recent years, the ecological environment has changed and the Yangtze river swordfish is facing extinction. Although puffer fish meat is delicious, puffer fish poison should not be underestimated. Improper handling or overeating can kill people.
When it comes to Jiangyin, we have to mention the horseshoe crisp in Jiangyin. Horseshoe Crisp is a local product in Jiangyin history. Different from other places, the horseshoe crisp in Jiangyin is made of heavy oil, heavy sugar, red bean paste and black sesame. Because it looks like a horseshoe, it is named horseshoe crisp. Horseshoe is soft and fragrant, sweet and greasy, melt in the mouth, crisp and soft, and full of color and flavor. The so-called "it's a pity to eat horseshoe crisp if you don't reach the Great Wall". Horseshoe Crisp was founded in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. To commemorate Jiangyin's anti-Qing struggle, it looks like a horseshoe. After several generations of reform, it has become today's chrysanthemum. In Jiangyin people's eyes, the chrysanthemum-shaped water chestnut cake is called water chestnut cake, and other so-called water chestnut cake is called old lady cake or butterfly cake.
"Sanxian of the Yangtze River" and horseshoe crisp are both one of Jiangyin's specialties, and another specialty of Jiangyin is Heidu wine. Black Du Liquor, also known as Jiangyin Black Liquor, is said to be created by "Brewmaster" Du Kang, hence its name.
In Jiangyin, we must eat red soup for reunion in the morning of the Spring Festival, which represents reunion and prosperity.
After the reform and opening-up, with the economic and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries and the mutual penetration of the cultures of the East, the West, the North and the South, Jiangyin's catering industry has introduced more new dishes and new points with various tastes and flavors, which makes people feel dazzling and beautiful.