CNNGo.com

---

• 8 secret acupoints to cure travel ills
• Insider Guide: Best of Amsterdam
• 8 wild outdoor adventures in Dubai
• 8 dishes to try in Nanjing

8 secret acupoints to cure travel ills Posted: 01 Sep 2013 11:00 AM PDT Feeling nauseous, anxious or dehydrated? The cure is right in your hands After stowing the passport and whipping out the phone, it's straight to the pharmacy bins at the airport market for some long-haul fliers, who slam all sorts of pills, tonics and remedies to alleviate aches and ills. But there's another choice -- acupressure. Acupressure is the practice of pressing or massaging certain points on the body said to stimulate self-curative abilities. For each of the points described below, you may need to press or rub the point in 20- to 30-second intervals for up to 10 minutes before the effect is felt. You may also need to use it repeatedly throughout the day. Play around to find what works best. Note: The author of this story is not a medical doctor. For serious medical issues, always consult a qualified physician.   1. Motion sickness and nausea: anti-vomiting point Why splash out on a wrist band when your fingers will do just as well? Ever seen those wrist bands people wear for boat or car trips? Those are designed to press on this point to relieve motion sickness and nausea. This is also the first point I talk about with fellow travelers. Locate: Inside the forearm, two thumb-widths above the wrist crease, between the two tendons. The point is actually located below surface level, so pushing deep is most effective. 2. Neck and back pain: back-movement point Also useful for office workers. Long days traveling, cheap hotel pillows and dragging around a mammoth suitcase can cause neck, shoulder or lumbar pain. Rubbing this point eases these complaints. For a stiff neck, rub in small circles while slowly turning the head one direction and then the other. Locate: Make a loose fist and, looking at the pinky side, find the last crease (just below the biggest knuckle). The point is found along that line at the intersection of the two slightly different shades of skin. Also on CNN: Traditional Chinese exercises to help you live forever 3. Sore throat and lightheadedness: cold-relief point Who needs Cold-FX? Overnight flights, sudden climatic changes and air pollution can all increase a traveler's susceptibility to the common cold. Rubbing or pressing this point relieves symptoms associated with colds, including sore throat, cough, sneezing and body aches, plus lightheadedness. Locate: Loosely interlock your thumbs at the webbing -- both palms facing down, keeping your wrists straight, extend your index finger to the skinny edge of your wrist. Under the pad of your index finger in the prominent bone you'll find a small depression -- that's the point. Reverse the top position of the hands to find the point on the other side. Also on CNN: Is massage good for you or does it just feel nice? 4. Headache, constipation and fever: release point Not for use by pregnant women. Whether you feel a headache coming on from dehydration, too much drinking or just the pains of traveling, press this point to relieve headaches and general pain. When unfamiliar food or the poor diet of travel leaves you constipated, massage here. This point is also used to reduce fever. Caution: this point can induce labor, so don't use on pregnant women. Locate: Spread your index finger and thumb, then place the joint of your opposite thumb along the webbing and bend the thumb over. The point is just in front of the tip of your thumb -- search around until you find the sore spot. Also on CNN: The Japanese underpants that burn calories for you 5. Digestive issues: stomach-solution point Cure to a sore stomach? Your legs. Exotic food, unfamiliar environments and less-than-sanitary conditions can wreak havoc on normal digestion. Use this point for abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, as well as accompanying fatigue and weakness. A harder massage may be required, but it should feel tender when you've found the right point. Locate: The point is on the outer shin, just below the knee. Relax the leg straight, place your four fingers on your knee with the index finger against the knee cap. Mark the horizontal level under the pinky finger. At that level, using the middle section of your middle finger, place the knuckle on the shin bone, where the second knuckle lands (going toward the outside of the leg) in a vertical line. The point is found at the intersection. 6. Insomnia and disturbed dreams: peaceful-sleep point Bad dreams may be banished with a massage. When jet lag or new surroundings leave you unable to sleep, light pressure on this point can help ease you into a restful slumber and reduce excessive dreaming. Locate: Find the styloid process muscle on the side of the neck, follow that up to where it meets the skull. There it forms an A-like depression with the skull going toward the back of the head -- that's the point. Also on CNN: World's 10 most exotic wellness retreats 7. Anxiety and over-thinking: spirit-calming point Not to be pressed while operating heavy machinery. Perhaps you're stressed about business or worried about general travel plans. If your mind is racing, use this point to relieve anxiety and calm down.  Lightly rubbing or pressing the point reduces stress and aids sleep (combine with peaceful-sleep point). Locate:  Look on the underside of your wrist and find the last tendon on the pinky side. The point is just inside that tendon on the wrist crease next to the palm. 8. Overall wellness: supplementary point Why foot massages feel so good. Acupoints are often used in combination for greater effect. This point can aid the success of the points listed above for dry or sore throat and dizziness, headache and constipation, lower back pain, insomnia, fatigue. This point may also provide some comfort when you're stuck on a bus with no bathroom breaks. Locate: On the inside of the ankle, in the depression located halfway between the Achilles and the most prominent point of the ankle bone, rub or press here. For best results Putting pressure on acupoints, known as acupressure, encourages "qi" or energy flow, straightens out imbalances in the body, activates the immune system and aids proper circulation. When finding acupoints, follow the instructions provided, but always seek to find the sore or tender point, usually next to a bone or tendon, as that will be most effective. Points are symmetrical on both sides of the body, but applying pressure to one side may work better than the other. Some points and conditions respond better to massage while others to pressing. Sometimes lighter pressing works well, other times harder is better. Originally published November 2011. Updated September 2, 2013. Also on CNN: 18 yoga exercises for the plane Tags:  massage healthy flying acupressure

Insider Guide: Best of Amsterdam Posted: 01 Sep 2013 09:01 AM PDT It's colorful, it's chaotic, it's Koninginnedag. Queen's Day in the Netherlands is your day too, best enjoyed in the capital The biggest city in the Netherlands is a triumph of resourcefulness and lateral thinking. Space is at premium in Amsterdam, where much of the land has been reclaimed from the sea. The city's planners turned that to their advantage: Amsterdam's canals soothe rather than imprison the city. They provide its order, its calm. That calm is regularly disturbed by the trill of bicycle bells, but as long as you give the cyclists a wide berth, it's the perfect city for pedestrians. Now, with Koninginnedag upon us (April 30) and a new king being crowned, it's the perfect time to discover the best of Amsterdam.   Hotels Luxury Seven One Seven In Amsterdam, hotel rooms sometimes look like paintings.Guests are spoiled in this best of Amsterdam, 18th-century throwback, a grand building restored in the 1990s and well located on the Prinsengracht, a short walk to the Leidseplein. There's a strong fine arts theme, with plenty of paintings to browse in the public parts of the hotel and other artistic curiosities in all the suites. If the weather's fine there are two pleasant garden areas to have breakfast in. Book well in advance to be sure of a room. Prinsengracht 717, 1017 JW Amsterdam; +31 20 427 0717; from €250 per night; www.717hotel.nl The Dylan The best of Amsterdam is uncluttered and arty.This place has a long and varied history. The building itself started life as a theater, then the site was a refuge for the city's destitute. There's little trace of that now, with the emphasis on finery, although an eclectic mix of it, with antique art objects among the furnishings and bold color combinations on many of the bedroom walls. Keizersgracht 384, 1016 GB Amsterdam; +31 20 530 2010; from €325 per night; www.dylanamsterdam.com Mid-range Sandton Hotel De Filosoof Clean simplicity.If you have a favorite philosopher, chances are there'll be a room at De Filosoof in his name, and you can wonder if they've interpreted him as you might have done in their choice of colors and decoration. Some of the rooms are on the small side of cozy, but it's a comfortable place close to the Vondelpark.  Anna van den Vondelstraat 6, 1054 GZ Amsterdam; +31 20 683 3013; from €120 per night; www.hoteldefilosoof.nl   Budget Agora Decorated in an art deco style, but with an unpretentious, warm ambience, the Agora occupies an old canal house near the flower market. There are no elevators, common to many of the cheaper hotels in the city, so be prepared for a climb if your room is on one of the upper floors. Singel 462, 1017 AW Amsterdam; +31 20 627 2200; from €75 per night; www.hotelagora.nl Dining Breitner Classy cuisine, at a price.Popular with theater-goers -- who, like many Amsterdam folk, dine early ahead of shows -- and with businesspeople, Breitner prepares interesting set menus, often up to six courses. Chef Remco Tensen's orientation is towards classic French food, with subtle terrines and patés to begin with and a good range of fresh fish.  For a table with canal views, book well ahead. Amstel 212, 1017 AH Amsterdam; +31 20 627 7879; expensive; www.restaurant-bretner.nl   Restaurant Christophe Restaurant Christophe focuses essentially on French cuisine, but borrows imaginatively from elsewhere in the Mediterranean. It's strong on shellfish, but the suckling pig is also special. Chef and proprietor Jean Joel Bonsens has been developing Restaurant Christophe for six years, and has established a varied wine cellar. He's also taken care of the decor: an interior that's elegantly lit, service that's discreet and professional. Leliegracht 46, 1015 DH Amsterdam; +31 20 625 0807; expensive; www.restaurantchristophe.nl   Long Pura A portal from the 'Dam to Indonesia. The Netherlands may not have as broad a colonial past as other nations of Europe, but it stretches a long way east; the most conspicuous sign of this in Amsterdam is the Indonesian restaurants.  Long Pura is a best of Amsterdam spot. The chef is from Bali, the menu extensive. The duck dishes are especially recommended.  Rozengracht 46-48, 1016 ND Amsterdam; +31 20 623 8950; mid-range; www.restaurant-longpura.com Mamouche Up-market but authentic Maghrebi food (and wine) in a setting carefully cultivated to put the diner in mind of North Africa. Enter and you're among scents of jasmine and rose petal. Mamouche has grown in popularity among locals and visitors over the past decade, so you may need to book for an evening table. Quellijnstraat 104, 1072 XZ Amsterdam; +31 20 673 6361; mid-range; www.restaurantmamouche.nl Nightlife Supperclub Laid-back you say? Just a little.This best of Amsterdam club is a great place for shedding your shoes and spreading out on one of the bright white loungers set around low tables either side of the dance and performance floor. You can also eat here -- though it's quite pricey -- until midnight. Guests tend to be of a wide spread of age and nationality. The staff are also of all sorts: waiters who do fire-eating tricks, for instance. Supperclub does a sideline in late-night boat trips and is open until 3 a.m. at weekends. Jonge Roelensteeg 21, 1012 PL Amsterdam; +31 20 344 6400; expensive; www.supperclub.com Club Chi Favored by the in-crowd in their mid-20s, Club Chi is an ultra-modern venue.  Saturdays can be frenetic and on weekends it's always well to be aware of Amsterdam's reputation -- hardly fading -- as a venue for stag and hen getaways. Some of those end up at Club Chi. But there's a good spread of music and DJs from all over the world. Things are more tranquil on Sundays, when there's usually a leaning to Latino music. Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 161, 1012 RK Amsterdam; +31 20 521 8555; mid-range Lime Amsterdam is nostalgic for the 1960s and 1970s, with its John-and-Yoko-style moments (they honeymooned at the Hilton in March 1969). Lime, a sort of lounger-cum-cocktail bar, celebrates all that. Comfortable seating and a cool mood attracts a clientele that's relaxed and bohemian. Stays open until after 2 a.m. on weekends. Zeedijk 104, 1012 BB Amsterdam; +31 20 639 3020; mid-range Shopping / Attractions The Van Gogh Museum Travelers still draw inspiration from the Netherlands' standout painter.A journey through the life, the different influences, the setbacks and the troubled mind of the Netherland's standout modern master. This best of Amsterdam collection is the most complete of Van Gogh's works anywhere. The experience is thorough, with paintings and sketches complemented by audio-visual reference points. The museum is airily designed across two main buildings and looks over the Museumplein, a far nicer place to stroll that it was before its redesign in the late 1990s. Paulus Potterstraat 7, 1071 CX Amsterdam; +31 20 570 5200; www.vangoghmuseum.nl   People of the Labyrinths Dutch art need not be confined to the masters. This is a nation proud of its radical palette and its independent sensibility in art and fashion. This clothing brand -- POTL for short -- has become an international success in the 28 years since Geert de Rooij and Hans Demoed set up their boutique for hand-crafted, rainbow-bright clothes. Seeing the real stuff rather than the cyber-retailed versions is worthwhile, even with the high price tags. Van Baerlerstraat 42-44, 1071 AZ Amsterdam; +31 664 0779; www.labyrinths.nl   Floating Flower Market Flowers for every bee, bird and passerby.Best accessed from Singel, the flower market has almost every imaginable shade of tulip, from pure, plain hues to ones with marble-effect petals. Bulbs and seeds prepared for long distance export are for sale. It's best to check the regulations if you mean to take them a long distance. Customs clearance stamps can be arranged with stallholders. Located on the Singel canal; +31 20 625 8282; open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m -5.30 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5.30 p.m.   Laid-back Amsterdam The Dutch have an image as a laid-back people, makers of liberal-minded cities. Most Amsterdammers work hard, but also appreciate the slower pace that their hometown obliges. This is not a city to speed around efficiently by car. To experience the best of Amsterdam, it's often best to take things slowly. Catch a boat Waterproof camera advised.There are several ways to travel the canals as they were designed to be traveled. Visitors can join a cruise for a few hours or full day, guided around the sights, or hire their own row boat. Traffic can be heavy, and slow, on the waterways, but an Amsterdam glimpsed from sea-level on a fine day is a calming way to take in the city. Voyeurs can also get the odd insight into how the true water-dwellers live, through the windows of their narrow boats and barges. Botanical Gardens Tulips are better than one, no?The De Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam is one of the oldest organized botanical gardens in the world, and another legacy of the long history of Dutch exploration and acquisition. There are sections here for sub-tropical species, for desert plants and for those that grow in steamier climates. They include living, thriving examples of the site's longevity -- trees more than 300 years old -- and some eye-catching rarities among the 4,000 species. It's a nice escape from the city center. Plantage Middenlaan 2A; +31 20 625 9021; www.dehortus.nl Old Book Market Ancient maps and more to be discovered.There's a great deal more than books to be found here, though it's possible to lose yourself for hours leafing through the illustrations of some of the more ornate works on sale. Within the market are various specialist sellers; most are happy to let you look. With the Dutch being such a well-voyaged, multi-lingual people, there are volumes in many different languages. The cartography stalls have maps dating to a time when the world looked very different.  Open every day except Sunday; along Oude Manhuispoort, Muntplein First published May 2012, updated April 2013

8 wild outdoor adventures in Dubai Posted: 30 Aug 2013 08:25 AM PDT Desert camping, skydiving, sea kayaking ... gold-leaf facials and Krug sundowners aren't the only exotic adventures in Dubai We all know Dubai, right? Brash, high-rolling, seven-star -- a place to drop loads of cash and stay indoors against the heat. But Dubai is recently attracting adventure travelers. Between October and April, when the weather cools, Dubai offers countless opportunities for action on land and sea, or in the air. 1. Skydiving Look down, you fools! Skydiving gives you the most visceral view of Dubai's extraordinary manmade landscape.Sand islands built in the shape of the world map, the world's tallest building, luxury hotels resembling huge chandeliers -- Dubai's man-made skyline is well-known from amazing images. For some, the best way to experience these 21st century landmarks is by jumping out of a Cessna and plummeting toward them at hellish speeds. Jumpers take off from Dubai Marina and, strapped to an instructor, tumble out of the plane above the Palm Jumeirah for an instant free-fall adrenaline rush. Once the chute opens its time to relax and concentrate on sprawling views that unfurl as you descend gently toward the purpose-built Palm Drop Zone. Skydive Dubai, off Al Sufouh Road, Dubai Marina; +971 50 153 3222; tandem skydives from $545 2. Mountain biking The terrain is harsh, and the biking hardcore, at Showka in the Hajar Mountains, where trails utilize old animal tracks.Devoted mountain bikers who imagine Dubai as soft dunes and dust need to wise up -- and plenty already have. Within the Hajar Mountains running east of Dubai through Ras al-Khaimah emirate and Oman, there's a labyrinth of big-time trails to tackle. A hardcore organization of expat mountain bikers, Hot Cog, has helped discover and maintain 70 kilometers of wild routes through craggy terrain around the Showka area, incorporating narrow trails, wadi beds and animal paths. You won't be alone: wild donkeys, mountain goats, lizards and snakes might all be encountered along the way. With steep climbs and rough ground, tracks are difficult and not suitable for novices, but offer a tasty challenge to experienced riders. Hot Cog has information on routes and joining a group ride. Bike rental: Adventure HG,Times Square, Sheikh Zayed Road; +971 4 346 6824; mountain bike rentals from $27 Guided mountain bike rides: Absolute Adventure, Absolute Adventure Center, Dibba; +971 4 345 9900; rides from $100 3. Desert camping Where the city stops, there's desert for a long, long way ... you can camp just about anywhere in the dunes of Dubai. There's no need to be stuck in a crowded campsite around Dubai. Beyond the city limits, the emirate's desert is basically one giant campsite -- albeit a bit light on the washroom facilities. Dubai locals like nothing better than to throw their gear in a 4x4 and head for the nearest set of dunes. Off the Dubai to Hatta road, Shwaib is a good spot. Within a couple of hours of leaving the city, you can be set up amid the dunes, ready for an evening of barbecuing beneath the star-rich desert night sky. With wadi beds and mountains to explore, the next day is often spent on 4x4 voyages or practicing dune sports, such as sand-boarding. You can camp even if you don't own the equipment. Companies such as Arabian Adventures lead guided camping safaris into the emirate's only national park -- the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, where herds of oryx and gazelle roam freely. Arabian Adventures, Emirates Holidays Building, Sheikh Zayed Road; +971 4 303 4888; Starlight Express overnight camping trip from $190 per person 4. Reef- and wreck-diving Divers head out to explore wreck sites off Dubai coast ... look out for color-changing cuttlefish.The Red Sea grabs the headlines for Middle East diving, but the emirates offer good, lesser-known underwater experiences. Reefs are sparse along Dubai's sandy coastline, but there are some good wreck dives a few miles offshore. Sunk in 1998, Anchor Barge forms an artificial coral-coated reef at a depth of 25 meters -- it's a popular haunt for color-changing cuttlefish. Nearby, Mariam Express is a cargo ship bottomed in 2006. There's much more to see in the Gulf of Oman, off the Arabian Peninsula's eastern shores, a 90-minute drive from town and offered as a day trip from most Dubai hotels. The waters of Fujairah emirate are warmer, with abundant reefs and islands to explore. Likely sightings include black-tipped reef sharks, parrotfish, moray eels, scorpionfish and turtles. Further up the coast, off the Omani territory of Musandam, has some of the region's best drift diving. It's a popular location for multi-day, live-aboard trips -- whale sharks are frequent visitors. Al Boom Diving, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah; +971 4 342 2993; from $95 per person for two-dive trip, with equipment 5. Climbing and hiking Excellent hiking and climbing await around the mountains of Dubai's northerly neighbor, Ras Al Khaimah.Climbing as a pastime in the U.A.E. and Oman has been steadily growing, with new routes being discovered and existing ones developed by a small band of dedicated climbers and adventure operators. The Hajar Mountains rise to 3,050 meters (10,000 feet) at their zenith. The towering limestone crags offer a range of challenges -- from 3,000-foot routes up the higher peaks, such as Jebel Misht, to numerous shorter climbs and bouldering opportunities. Around Dibba, on the east coast, you can even try deep-water soloing -- cliff climbing above the sea.  For non-climbers, there are challenging hiking routes in the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. The area is best explored on a guided hike; barely decipherable paths edge up cliff sides to high plateaus and mountaintops offering spectacular views across the plains below. High above the desert in these upper reaches are hidden tracts of fertile farmland, wadi pools and remote villages. Arabia Outdoors, +971 55 955 6209 6. Sea kayaking With long stretches of wild coast and mangrove, the Arabian Peninsula offers excellent kayaking.The coast of the Arabian Peninsula has some excellent sea kayaking arenas, including areas of wetland that seem incongruous with the prevailing desert climate. On the west coast, kayakers can explore accessible mangroves in the emirates of Um Al Quwain and Abu Dhabi, where they can see turtles and flamingos. Over on the east coast is Khor Kalba, a protected 1,500-hectare area of mangrove forest that attracts important local wildlife. White-collared kingfishers and Socotra cormorants, both endangered species, make their home here -- paddlers can easily enjoy half a day gliding around calm waters trying to spot the rare bird life. Still on the east coast, more adventurous kayakers can spend anything between two days to a week traveling around the Musandam coast from Dibba, checking out coves and inlets and camping on isolated beaches. Absolute Adventure, Absolute Adventure Centre, Dibba; +971 4 345 9900; half-, full- and multi-day kayaking trips from $135 per person 7. Kitesurfing and wakeboarding Prime hotel and residential real estate occupy large swathes of Dubai's city coastline, meaning much of it is in private hands. One stretch of beach that isn't off limits is in Umm Suqiem, a relatively quiet area of villas in the shadow of the luxury, sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel. In recent years this enclave has become a magnet for wakeboarders and kitesurfers.  Introductory sessions in both, from $55 per person, can be booked through: Dukite, +971 50 758 6992; or Mark Andrew Kite School, +971 50 886 0874 8. Off-roading Who needs a road? Sand dunes, gravel plains and wadi beds can all be tackled on a 4x4 ride.Gravel plains, sand dunes and wadi beds provide the surface for all-terrain vehicles in Dubai's off-road adventure terrain. Local operators take tourists out for stomach-churning dune bashing, with passengers gripping tightly as experienced drivers treat (or subject) them to a couple of hours of tearing up and skidding down steep sands. If you want to take the wheel of a 4x4 yourself, there are good resources at hand. Armed with a copy of the essential UAE Off-Road Guide and a decent GPS, you can choose between rocky trails following a course of wadi beds, tracks winding up into the mountains and trails snaking across the sands. Arabian Adventures, Emirates Holidays Building, Sheikh Zayed Road; +971 4 303 4888; Morning Dune Drive trip from $53 per person Offroad Zone, Street 8, Al Quoz 1; +971 4 339 2449; off-road vehicle hire from $272 per day Tags:  Dubai adventure tourism adventure travel

8 dishes to try in Nanjing Posted: 29 Aug 2013 06:03 AM PDT As the ancient capital of a nation obsessed with its food, Nanjing maintains a royal culinary standard The emperors may have left town, but their chefs appear to have stuck around. That's the best explanation for the delicate and delectable options found on tables across Nanjing. Jiangsu Province -- Nanjing is the capital -- is home to one of the most influential cuisines in China. More on CNN: Nanjing mini-guide Typified by exquisite shape and cut, Nanjing's own homegrown dishes provide some of the tastiest examples of Jiangsu cuisine. Here are 8 essential orders in Nanjing.  1. Sweet and sour Mandarin fish Mandarin fish is the perfect example of Jinling cuisine.​ Sweet and sour Mandarin fish is perhaps the quintessential example of Jinling cuisine (a subset of Jiangsu cuisine, typical of Nanjing) -- preparation requires delicate skill, and there's an emphasis on appearance as well as savory taste. The fish is de-boned and sliced in grids before going into the wok.  Boiling sweet and sour sauce is combined with ingredients such as shrimp, nuts and mushrooms and poured onto the fish, creating a squeaking sound. The result is a plate of fish shaped like a squirrel, hence it's common name, "squirrel fish." Best at: Ma Xiang Xing, 32 Yunnan Beilu, Gulou district, Nanjing; +86 25 8328 6387/6388; 6:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. 2. Salted duck The best salted duck has pale skin and pink meat, like this.​ Nanjing is a city with duck fever -- from marinated to roasted, from the meat to the blood. As the local saying goes, "Without duck, it's not a proper meal." Salted duck is a cold dish usually served as an appetizer or snack with alcohol. More on CNN: Around China in 31 dishes Plum Garden's salted duck is marinated in a special brine that keeps the meat tender and imbues it with a slightly salty flavor. Best at: Plum Garden, 2/F, Jinling Hotel, Xin Jie Kou Square, Nanjing; +86 25 8471 1888 (ext. 4204); open daily 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 6-10 p.m. 3. Pan-fried beef dumplings For the complete experience, pan-fried beef dumplings should be accompanied by beef soup. With its crispy wrapper, flavorful beef and onion filling and steaming soup, it's no wonder niu rou guo tie (pan-fried beef dumplings) are the pride of Nanjing. Pan-fried beef dumplings are considered one of Nanjing's eight traditional Qinhuai treasures, as designated by government-sanctioned experts in 1987. The original dumpling mentioned as a Qinhuai treasure comes from Jiang You Ji restaurant, which is still located in an alley in Nanjing's Confucius Temple area. Liji Halal Restaurant is another popular local choice for the dumplings. For the complete experience, pan-fried beef dumplings should be accompanied by beef soup, or niu rou tang. Best at: Jiang You Ji, 313 Qin Hong Lu, Qin Huai District; +86 25 5262 2265 Liji Halal Restaurant, 1 Dading Xiang, Pingshi Jie, Baixia District; +86 25 5225 7736 4. Tangbao (soup dumpling) Bursting with flavor ... literally. ​ Who needs fries or chips when you can snack on these marvelous soup dumplings for a dollar or two? The sight of chicken broth and pork wobbling inside a paper-thin wrapper -- assuming a chopstick hasn't accidentally pierced the tender wrapper -- is sheer heaven for many locals. The most famous places for the dish is Yinshi Jishi Tangbao restaurant, though the flavor can be too sweet for some. If you prefer your dumplings less sweet, Liu Changxing restaurant is recommended.  Best at: Liu Changxing, 506 Zhongshan Dong Lu, Baixia District; +86 25 8441 1031 5. Duck blood vermicelli soup Duck blood and offal -- waste turned into treasure.​ Yes, the soup is made of duck blood curd and offal -- but that doesn't deter local connoisseurs. It's said that duck blood vermicelli soup was brought to Nanjing by a traveler from Auhui, a neighboring province. But the dish has become a Nanjinger favorite cheap eat. You can find duck blood vermicelli soup as easily in Nanjing as you can find kebab stands in Berlin. Best at: Yadebao, 11-12 Chaozhi Xiang, Baixia District; +86 25 8452 4820 6. Jinling roast duck Less fame, same famous flavor. It's a never-ending debate as to where roast duck was invented -- it's called Peking duck in Beijing and Jinling duck in Nanjing. According to one legend, Ming Dynasty emperor Zhu Di brought his favorite roasted duck chefs with him from his Nanjing palace when he moved the capital to Beijing. Though less celebrated internationally, Jinling duck is hardly inferior to its northern counterpart. Crisp and greasy duck skin with juicy and tender flesh is the standard formula of the satisfying dish. Best at: Chen Lin, 5-1 Diao Yu Tai (Near Zhonghua Gate) 7. Hairy crab Cholesterol? Hahahaha!​ Since 2001, the biggest event in Gaochun County in southern Nanjing has been the annual hairy crab festival. This makes sense -- about a third of the county's area is occupied by Gucheng Lake, one of the country's top breeding grounds for hairy crabs.  The crabs are meaty and sweet, with a paste inside that has a rich, buttery texture.  The best season for hairy crab is autumn. Chinese believe that the ninth month of the lunar calendar (usually mid-September) is the best time for female hairy crabs and the tenth month (mid-October) is best for male hairy crabs.  Best in: Gaochun county in mid- to late September 8. Egg shaomai Shaomai version of the seafood omelette. It's the most expensive shaomai in Nanjing, but it's the best.  Ma Xiang Xing Halal restaurant reinvented the shaomai dumpling for a Chinese general who loved shaomai and loved shrimp. Typical shaomai uses pork, fish or cheaper bits of shrimp -- at Ma Xiang Xing Halal, fresh shrimps are made into a paste and wrapped in a thin dumpling made from egg. These aren't to be mistaken for the egg yolk shaomai sold on the ground floor in Ma Xiang Xing. Best at: Ma Xiang Xing, 32 Yunnan Beilu, Gulou district, Nanjing; +86 25 8328 6387/6388; 6:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. CNN Travel's series often carries sponsorship originating from the countries and regions we profile. However, CNN retains full editorial control over all of its reports. Read the policy. Tags:  Nanjing Nanjing food Roasted duck Jinling cuisine

You are subscribed to email updates from CNN Travel To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610