During the bamboo shoots cultural festival, Sheshan Forest Hotel rolls out bamboo shoot-related gourmet food covering cold appetizers, hot dishes and desserts using a variety of cooking methods including braising, frying, simmering, boiling and steaming, for visitors to sample.

The Sheshan Forest Hotel at Sheshan National Forest Park has launched more than 100 kinds of bamboo shoots gourmet dishes adding distinctive taste to the 15th bamboo shoots cultural festival underway from March 28 to April 6.

Lan Sun, meaning "orchid bamboo shoots", is a unique food ingredient which grows at Sheshan Mountain, Shanghai and springs up around the time of Qing Ming Festival, or Tomb-sweeping Day.

Each year during the bamboo shoots cultural festival, Sheshan Forest Hotel rolls out bamboo shoot-related gourmet food covering cold appetizers, hot dishes and desserts using a variety of cooking methods including braising, frying, simmering, boiling and steaming, for visitors to sample. Over the course of the festival there is a 12 percent-off discounted price, and the chance for guests to even cook a bamboo shoot dish themselves.

The name Lan Sun origins dates back 300 years to the Qing Dynasty (AD 1644-1912), when Emperor Kangxi visited the area now known as Songjiang district, Shanghai, and local officials treated him the bamboo shoots gourmet. Fascinated by the fragrant and fresh orchid smell, the emperor granted Sheshan Mountain the name of "Orchid Bamboo Shoot Mountain".

Initiated in 2002, the bamboo shoots cultural festival has become a typical spring event for Shanghai residents, with its popularity growing year on year.

IF YOU GO

Location: No.9259, Waiqingsong Road, Songjiang district, Shanghai