Handalong Sauce Store
Handalong Sauce Store is located at No. 237, Beidajie (North Street), at the eastern foot of Tai’an Bridge. Founded in the 12th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing dynasty (1886), it boasts a history of nearly 140 years.
The shop’s layout reflects traditional Jiangnan commercial architecture. Facing west, it consists of a street-front sales hall and a rear production workshop. The brick-and-wood structure includes a front courtyard, main hall, side rooms, and rear warehouse. The entire building measures 10.5 meters in width and 26.7 meters in depth.
The entrance features an antique Shikumen-style stone gate. On either side of the outer wall are two strikingly large black characters “酱园” (“Sauce Store”) on a white background, written in bold, elegant calligraphy that draws immediate attention. Inside, intricate carvings adorn the beams, eaves, and floor-to-ceiling windows, with delicate gilded details adding an air of refinement. In 2001, the site was officially designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Qingpu District.
Handalong’s products are famous for their exceptional quality and unique production process. Among them, the Double-Sun Soy Sauce and Rose Dew Wine won silver medals at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, while Mi Qingchun Rice Wine was awarded the Grand Prize at China’s 1987 Yellow Rice Wine Festival.
The Double-Sun Soy Sauce is crafted using premium soybeans naturally fermented into paste, then sun-dried by day and dew-exposed by night, resulting in a naturally concentrated sauce with a rich, aromatic, and savory flavor—an outstanding seasoning for fine cuisine.
Today, the Handalong Sauce Store, with its preserved historic appearance, evokes nostalgia among visitors. Many stop to take photos and shop for souvenirs. The site remains a lively hub of activity and has also been featured in numerous film and television productions, becoming a cherished visual symbol of Zhujiajiao’s Ming and Qing dynasty streetscape.
