In Shanghai, the Chinese New Year table bursts with flavor and cultural symbolism. Each dish embodies not only rich taste but also heartfelt wishes for the year ahead. Here's a closer look at some of the most cherished foods that brighten the holiday season.

Eight-treasure duck (八宝鸭，bā bǎo yā)

Eight-treasure duck is a classic Shanghai New Year specialty and a signature at local restaurants. The duck is stuffed with eight ingredients — including glutinous rice, chestnuts, and mushrooms — and braised in its own savory broth. Topped with shrimp and green peas simmered in the same rich juices, this dish offers a harmonious balance of deep, hearty flavors and varied, satisfying textures.

Meaning: Symbolizes wealth, completeness, and family prosperity.

Smoked fish (熏鱼, xūn yú)

Typically prepared with grass carp or black carp, the fish is marinated, deep-fried, and soaked in a savory-sweet sauce until the skin is crisp and the flesh remains tender. Meaning: The word for fish (鱼, yú) sounds the same as "surplus" (余, yú), expressing wishes for abundance year after year.

Quick-fried shrimp (油爆虾, yóu bào xiā)

No New Year feast would be complete without the presence of shrimp, especially the quick-fried river variety. Flash-fried in hot oil until their shells turn bright red and crispy, the shrimp are easy to peel, revealing firm, juicy flesh inside. The meat strikes a perfect balance of savory and sweet, offering a delightful culinary experience that captures the essence of the celebration.

Meaning: The segmented shell resembles a ladder or steps, symbolizing upward progress, career advancement, and growing fortune.

Poached chicken (白斩鸡, bái zhǎn jī)

A beloved cold starter, poached chicken is made by gently cooking a whole chicken until just done, then chilling it to lock in tenderness. Sliced and served with a dipping sauce of minced ginger, scallions, and light soy sauce, it is refreshing and delicate.

Meaning: Stands for good luck, purity, and a smooth, auspicious beginning to the year.

Four-joy braised wheat gluten (四喜烤麸, sì xǐ kǎo fū)

A classic vegetarian dish, it combines wheat gluten with wood ear mushrooms, day-lily flowers, and peanuts, braised in a dark, sweet-savory sauce. The wheat gluten absorbs the rich flavors, creating a satisfying, umami-packed bite.

Meaning: The four main ingredients symbolize happiness, prosperity, longevity, and good fortune — together known as "four joys".

Family reunion hotpot (全家福, quán jiā fú)

A celebratory dish often seen at Shanghai weddings and holiday gatherings, this hotpot is prepared in a clay pot with a rich broth and an assortment of ingredients such as meatballs, smoked fish, fried tofu skin, mushrooms, and leafy greens. It simmers at the table, filling the room with a comforting aroma.

Meaning: The variety of ingredients represents the coming together of family, symbolizing unity, warmth, and shared happiness.

Eight-treasure rice (八宝饭, bā bǎo fàn)

New Year's Eve dinners in Shanghai often feature dishes with "treasure" in the name. If the main course serves eight-treasure duck, then the dessert brings eight-treasure rice. Made with glutinous rice and eight ingredients, including red dates, lotus seeds, longan, and preserved fruits, it is often molded into a dome shape and glazed with a light syrup, providing a comforting, sticky-sweet finish to the meal.

Meaning: Represents harmony, abundance, and the hope for a sweet year ahead.

Glutinous rice balls (汤圆, tāng yuán)

Beyond the classic black sesame and pork fillings, you can now find sweet versions such as red bean, date paste, purple sweet potato, and peanut, as well as savory ones with shepherd's purse, mixed seafood, or shrimp. Wrapped in soft glutinous rice dough, they're chewy, comforting, and utterly satisfying.

Meaning: Their round shape symbolizes wholeness and family togetherness, conveying hopes for reunion and harmony.

Rice cake (年糕, nián gāo)

Steamed from glutinous or regular rice flour, freshly made rice cakes are soft, sticky, and delightfully stretchy. They can be pan-fried, deep-fried, or boiled, and appear in dishes such as sweet fried rice cakes, rice cake soup with pork and greens, or rice cakes with pork ribs.

Meaning: The name sounds the same as "year high" (年高, nián gāo), symbolizing progress, growth, and reaching new heights in the coming year.

Sources: Huangpu district administration of culture and tourism, Changning district information office, thepaper.cn