The 2013 Nanxiang Xiaolongbao Culture Exhibition, with the theme "Xiaolongbao adds flavor to life", began to welcome tourists on September 28 in the Nanxiang Ancient Street, Shanghai's Jiading district. Xiaolongbao are steamed stuffed buns which became popular more than a century ago during the reign of Emperor Tongzhi of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911).
The exhibition took place in the Nanxiang Ancient Street, and was part of the Shanghai Tourism Festival, Shanghai Shopping Festival, and Shanghai Residents Culture Festival. Nanxiang Ancient Street, located in Shanghai's Jiading district, is a national AAAA tourist site, and it is known for its vendors selling Xiaolongbao.
Due to the government's policies to control spending, the organizers of this year's event canceled the opening ceremony and instead included cultural activities which led to interaction between local residents and tourists. The Nanxiang Xiaolongbao Food Show and a contest were also very popular.