Pian'er Chuan Noodles

Pian'er chuan is a famous Hangzhou noodle soup topped with pickled mustard greens, bamboo-shoot slices and shredded pork—brothy, brisk and thoroughly everyday.

With over a century of history, it is traditionally credited to the old Hangzhou house Kuiyuan Guan; its name comes from the slices "blanched" quickly in boiling water.

Eaten hot as a meal or a snack—taste the broth first, then the noodles and topping.

The salty tang of pickled greens against the sweetness of spring bamboo shoots defines the bowl.