Spring Festival fare you'll find on Shanghai tables

Stir-fried shrimp

3. Main dish: Being the highlight of the feast, the hot dishes are expected to surpass the cold ones in quality and quantity. A perennial favorite that can be found in most homes is the stir fried shrimp. A fish is also a must-have as its Mandarin pronunciation can be translated to "surplus", which suggests that the family members will have a bountiful year ahead. Even the most ordinary looking of vegetables will be garnished with mushrooms and nuts in order to impress.