Bacheng is the lakeside town at Yangcheng Lake famous for hairy crab. The Xiefang Yuan crab street holds restaurants that cook crab fresh from the lake.
Yangcheng Lake is Jiangsu's best-known source of hairy crab (dazha xie). Restaurants in Bacheng's Xiefang Yuan area steam the crab and serve it with ginger vinegar and warm rice wine. A crab dinner costs about CNY 150-400 (USD 22-60) per person depending on crab size. Booking is sensible in season, when weekends are busy. Bacheng is reached by taxi or ride-hailing (Didi) from Kunshan South Station. Alipay and WeChat Pay are normal.
| Price | $$ |
|---|---|
| Hours | Daily approx. 10:30AM-8:30PM |
| Reservations | Recommended in crab season |
| Address | No. 101 Xiefang Yuan, Bacheng Town, Kunshan, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China |
Signature dishes
- Steamed Yangcheng Lake hairy crab
- Crab roe tofu
- Crab dumplings
- Lake shrimp and fish
Good to know
- Known for
- Yangcheng Lake hairy crab
Location
No. 101 Xiefang Yuan, Bacheng Town, Kunshan, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
31.4505, 120.7380 View on map
Highlights
- Fresh lake crab
- Steamed with ginger vinegar
- Crab-street setting
Tips for visiting
- Payment is by Alipay or WeChat Pay; foreign cards are accepted at few venues, so a foreign-card-linked Alipay or WeChat Pay account set up before arrival, or cash, is the safe plan.
- Menus are usually Chinese-only outside large hotels; a translation app (Google Translate camera mode or Baidu Translate) and photo menus help.
- Confirm weights and prices before cooking
- Coordinates are approximate for the crab street; confirm on Amap
When to visit
October-December
Accessibility
Stairs are common in older buildings; step-free access varies and is best confirmed by phone or on Amap.
Frequently asked questions
When is hairy crab season?
Roughly October to December, with peak roe in November.