Other winter favorites

While colorful frosted cupcakes and donuts dominate the windows and counters at Shanghai's bakeries and cafes during the festive Christmas season, traditional street snacks have never lost their appeal in the eyes of the locals. To many, these snacks are an integral part of Chinese culture and tradition and they always manage to evoke memories of their childhood. As these snacks are always served warm, they also offer customers a comforting reprieve from the cold during winter.

Besides chestnuts, Shanghainese people also love their baked sweet potatoes. This root vegetable is so popular among the locals that it was even eulogized in China's most celebrated contemporary novel, Fortress Besieged with author Qian Zhongshu comparing it to an illicit affair and how "having it isn't as good as not having it".

Like chestnuts, the aroma of baked sweet potatoes is one of the main reasons why people are drawn to this snack. Most of the baked sweet potatoes are unseasoned, with the flavor depending solely on the freshness of the produce. Besides the small carts manned by street vendors, there are hardly any other places in Shanghai that sell this inexpensive treat that is usually costs less than 10 yuan ($1.6).