Jiangnan Laozao (Forest Park branch)

Jiangnan Laozao (江南老灶), meaning Jiangnan Old Stove, operates a Forest Park branch near Longbeishan Forest Park in the Xinjie Subdistrict of Yixing, Jiangsu province, China. The park lies in the hills north-west of Yicheng and is a green, wooded escape from the city, so the restaurant serves hikers, families and weekend visitors. The cuisine is Jiangnan farmhouse cooking, built on the idea of food prepared on a traditional earthen or wood-fired stove. Signature dishes include earthen-stove rice, braised pork with bamboo shoots and river fish. Earthen-stove rice is cooked in a large pot over a wood fire so that a golden crust of rice forms at the bottom, and is a popular regional speciality. The braised pork with bamboo shoots draws on the shoots harvested from the nearby hills, simmered in soy, sugar and rice wine, while the river fish reflects the lakes and streams of the Taihu basin. Prices are mid-range at roughly CNY 70-130 per person, with shared plates the norm. The dining room is rustic in style, with wooden furnishings, large round tables and a family-oriented, relaxed atmosphere; the volume rises at weekends when groups gather after a park visit. No dress code applies, and drinks include tea, soft drinks and beer. Reservations are not formally required, but at peak lunch and weekend dinner, arriving before about 11:30 or 17:30 helps, and large groups may wish to phone ahead. Opening hours are roughly 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-20:30, with a break between services. Because the restaurant is outside the city centre, visitors usually arrive by taxi, ride-hailing app or private car, and should confirm the return transport before dining in the evening.