Tangyuan is the must-have snacks during the Lantern Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month, which falls on March 2 this year. It is glutinous rice balls stuffed with a sweet or salty filling, especially popular in southern China.

The pronunciation and round shape of tangyuan are associated with reunion and being together. That's why they are favored by the Chinese during the New Year celebrations.

Tangyuan, however, is not exclusive to the Lantern Festival. It is a food for the winter solstice or any occasion of a family reunion. Nowadays, tangyuan often come in rainbow-like colors and are filled with many flavors, such as fruit preserves.

The round shape of tangyuan is created by hand. You shape the rice flour dough into balls, create an indentation in the dough, add the filling, then close it up and smooth out the dumpling by rolling it between hands. Nowadays, tangyuan often come in rainbowlike colors.

Despite the newer types of tangyuan, the traditional flavors are still the biggest seller in the market. The black sesame seed and sweet red bean paste are often the most favored fillings.

Below are some of the best places in Wuxi where you can try out the glutinous rice balls with your family, friends and lovers.

Customers try tangyuan stuffed with meat filling at Shanbei Tangyuan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Shanbei Tangyuan

Behind the Shanbei Agricultural Market, tangyuan stuffed with various kinds of fillings are boiled in a big pot in the shop. The shop owner promises fresh ingredients and the tangyuan with sesame and meat sells best.

Location: Beside Wangxingji near Shanbei Agricultural Market