The eight water plants is a traditionalfood in the south Jiangsu region, the ingredients include lotus root, gorgonfruit, water caltrop, water chestnut, arrowhead, wild rice stem, cress andwater shield, with most of them up on the market in autumn.

Taihu three whites

Whitebait: silverish color, tender andtransparent, soft as if boneless, it dates back to the Spring and AutumnDynasty and was listed among articles of tribute offered to the emperor in theKangxi period of Qing Dynasty.

White shrimp: also called ¡¯crystal shrimp¡¯,it has super-thin shell, is transparent all-around, and is as crystal as ajade.

Whitefish: also called ¡®uptick mouthwhitefish¡¯, it has tender bones and scales, white and tender meat, and rich squamousfat, and is comparable in deliciousness to the four-gilled perch in the southChangjiang River region.