New restaurant embodies Chinese fairy tale

Baby abalone and chicken egg, 56 yuan/Photos by Felix Gan

 

By Felix Gan

Every Chinese is familiar with the story of Madam White Snake. A thousand years ago, a young man saved a white snake, which turned into a beautiful lady and married the man’s great grandson to express her thanks. The lucky man she married was called Xu Xian.

And now we have Xu Xian Restaurant. As the legend was set in Hangzhou, the restaurant focuses on the flavors of Shanghai and Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

Opened at the end of July, this restaurant quickly attracted celebrities. It has since been nicknamed the “star restaurant,” as on any given night a diva like Zhou Xun or Faye Wong just might drop by.