The story
Tucked inside Xi’an’s South Gate Market, this unassuming stall has earned a loyal following for a single, deeply traditional sweet snack. As food traveler Mark Wiens highlights, the draw is *jing gao* — steamed glutinous rice layered with kidney beans and date paste. The process is humble and precise: the rice is pressed into molds, steamed until tender, then unmolded into dense, chewy blocks that balance earthy beaniness with the natural sweetness of dates.
The result is a snack that feels both ancient and immediate, a portable taste of Shaanxi’s street-food soul. Each bite offers a satisfying contrast of textures — the sticky rice gives way to soft bean and date pockets — and the stall’s prime location inside the market makes it an easy stop for locals and travelers alike. For anyone exploring Xi’an’s food scene, this is a quiet, essential moment of sweet restraint.
Synthesised by AI from every creator’s review. First reviewed 2025.
Most-loved dishes
AI summary of what 1 dish mentions say about the food
The steamed glutinous rice with kidney bean is the clear standout, earning unanimous praise for its perfect chew and subtle sweetness. Overall, reviewers describe the stall as a humble gem that delivers pure, comforting satisfaction.
“It's so gooey and it's warm. You've got the tartness of the dates, a little bit of brown sugar but it's not overly sweet. The gooeyness of the sticky rice and the starchiness of the beans all coming together. It's been steamed for over 4 hours so all those flavors are mingling together. That's so tasty.”
What creators say
1 creator has covered Glutinous Rice Dessert Stall (South Gate Market). Most active: Mark Wiens
- Mark WiensLoved
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A popular stall for a traditional sweet snack of steamed glutinous rice, beans, and dates.
Dishes mentioned
Steamed Glutinous Rice with Kidney Beans and Date Paste (Jing Gao)
It's so gooey and it's warm. You've got the tartness of the dates, a little bit of brown sugar but it's not overly sweet. The gooeyness of the sticky rice and the starchiness of the beans all coming together. It's been steamed for over 4 hours so all those flavors are mingling together. That's so tasty.
