Discover how a young Chinese entrepreneur brings Shengzhou xiaolongbao abroad, connecting cultures and sharing a taste of home with international customers.
At the start of 2026, while many were still setting New Year resolutions, 23-year-old Mi Zhuangyong had already set his sights high. “I want to sell 365,000 xiaolongbao this year,” he said in a video interview. “If I keep improving my skills, my business will grow—just like Xiaolongbao rising in a steamer.”
Only weeks earlier, Mi, a young entrepreneur from Shengzhou, eastern China, had opened his first Shengzhou Xiaolongbao shop abroad. With support from his family, he brought Shengzhou xiaolongbao, a traditional Chinese soup dumpling, to international customers for the first time.
A Taste of Home Abroad
For Mi, Xiaolongbao is more than food—it carries memory.
Growing up in Shengzhou, Xiaolongbao was part of everyday life: a familiar breakfast, a shared family meal, and a symbol of warmth during festivals. When he decided to start a business overseas, he wanted to bring that sense of home with him.
To celebrate the New Year, Mi launched a special “reunion set.” The response was immediate. Customers returned with friends. Some said it was their first time tasting xiaolongbao in this style.
What Makes Shengzhou Xiaolongbao Unique
Unlike many Xiaolongbaos found abroad, Shengzhou Xiaolongbao uses naturally fermented dough. Each dumpling is hand-folded into 18 delicate pleats. When the bamboo steamer opens, steam rises gently, and the Xiaolongbao reveals a soft, light texture with juicy filling inside.
This skill comes from years of practice. Shengzhou is famous in China for its traditional snack culture, where Xiaolongbao-making is treated as a professional craft rather than a hobby.
In recent years, frozen Xiaolongbaos have helped Shengzhou flavours reach a wider audience. Tens of thousands of people now work in the Shengzhou snack industry, which has grown into a multi-billion-yuan market. Training programs combine technique with consistency, making it possible for young entrepreneurs like Mi to turn a local speciality into an international business.
Connecting Cultures Through Food
Mi represents a new generation of overseas Chinese youth bringing culture abroad in tangible ways. Instead of exporting abstract ideas, they export taste and memory.
From Shengzhou to a shop abroad, one Xiaolongbao at a time, Mi is showing that traditional flavours can reach new customers. At the same time, young Chinese entrepreneurs are shaping how culture travels—through taste, skill, and dedication.
Additional reporting by Xiang Jing.
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