Historical allusions of steaming

Zhaoqing, located in the central and western Guangdong, has a good reputation as the old capital of Lingnan. The local steamed vegetables are the authentic specialty of Zhaoqing.

Artificial steaming in Zhaoqing began in the Qin Dynasty. When Qin Shihuang was in power, farmers suffered heavy taxes and labor. At that time, farmers wrapped rice in leaves for the convenience of working in the fields, and they could take it with them as dry food after cooking. This was the earliest steamed rice. Another way of saying this is that during the Qin and Han Dynasties, when Lingnan was unified, fresh-keeping cooked food that could be eaten at any time was carried with you for the garrison to eat.

In the Han Dynasty, Zhaoqing urban and rural residents had the custom of making zongzi during the Spring Festival and Dragon Boat Festival, which has been passed down to this day. Nowadays, Zhaoqing steamed bread has become a well-known traditional product in vernacular areas. As a necessary gift for visiting relatives and friends during the Spring Festival, Zhaoqing steamed bread symbolizes ample food and clothing and good luck in the coming year. It can be seen that, unlike zongzi, steamed dumplings are not used to commemorate Qu Yuan, but auspicious food that people want to live a rich life.

It is said that Bao Zheng was transferred to Beijing because of his outstanding exploits in Guduan Prefecture (now Zhaoqing). When he took office, Duanzhou people made an iron fist-shaped food from glutinous rice, mung beans and pork at home for Bao Zheng to eat on the trip. Therefore, Zhaoqing steaming is more like the shape of Bao Gong's iron fist.