[Video provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
For people seeking springtime flavors, having a bite of qingtuan at the Guangfulin Prime Hotel will stimulated their tastebuds.
Qingtuan, or sweet green glutinous rice balls with stuffing, is a seasonal snack popular in the Yangtze River Delta region during the springtime. It is traditionally stuffed with a red bean filling or dried meat floss and the green glutinous skin is dyed with wormwood juice.
Featuring a fresh flavor, qingtuan is among the popular springtime dishes at restaurants and hotels in China. It is widely consumed in China's Jiangnan area (the region south of the Yangtze River) around Qingming Festival, which falls on April 5 this year.
The best time to eat qingtuan is when it's cooled to room temperature after being steamed, which brings out the flavor of the rice balls, because if it's too hot, then the fragrance of the wormwood will disappear, and if it's too cold, the glutinous rice will be dry.
Guangfulin Prime Hotel is considered a popular place to eat qingtuan with its fresh ingredients and various stuffings as well as other spring delicacies.
The hotel is a garden hotel in Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park in the Shanghai Sheshan National Tourist Resort in Shanghai's Songjiang district. The hotel is located about 10 kilometers away from Songjiang Railway Station and about 30 kilometers away from Hongqiao International Airport. It is also adjacent to Songjiang University Town.
It is situated near a number of historical and cultural scenic spots in Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park, which showcases the local history. Nearby attractions also include Sheshan National Forest Park and Thames Town, making the hotel an ideal choice for tourists.
The hotel lobby was designed to resemble the former residence of Xia Yan, a prime minister during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The overall design of the 40,000-square-meter hotel integrates elements from Hui-style architecture and Suzhou Gardens with modern aesthetics.
The hotel has 161 guest rooms, and all of which have independent balconies and more than 40 of which are loft-style rooms. The hotel also has multi-functional conference rooms, recreational facilities, fitness centers, bars, 31 dining rooms, and Chinese and Western restaurants and cafes. After a day of fun, guests can relax in the massage room and spa, and soak their feet in a foot bath at the hotel.
Address: No 10 Lane 3260, Guangfulin Road, Songjiang district, Shanghai
