Mutton jello. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

During liqiu, the start of autumn, people in northern China traditionally engage in a practice known as tieqiubiao, a custom of eating more food, especially meat, to make up for the loss of appetite and weight during the hot summer.

What delicious foods does Wuxi have to offer in autumn?

Mutton is believed to be the most delicious in autumn by China's renowned gastronome and writer Wang Zengqi, and it has always been considered an important part of Chinese people's diets.

Steamed hairy crabs. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

When the weather gets cold, nothing beats eating a bowl of mutton soup. Braised mutton and mutton jello are also a must-eat for Wuxi natives in cold weather.

Autumn also belongs to the hairy crab. Most Wuxi natives prefer the dish steamed, as it is both easy and preserves more original flavor than other preparation techniques. Yellow wine-preserved crabs and crabmeat paste-made food such as steamed buns and shaomai dumplings are also highly recommended.

Sweet-scented osmanthus sugared taro. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

Another essential part of autumn in Wuxi are sweet-scented osmanthus-made desserts, including sugared taro and glutinous rice balls in rice wine, baked wheat pancakes, and meat-filled mooncakes.