White Swan Hotel 宏图府 @ Guangzhou

This is a dim sum place in Guangzhou that is fabled to be so difficult to get a table, it prompted me to go an hour ahead of opening time to get a table. But the wait was really worthwhile.

白天鹅宾馆 White Swan Hotel is the first 5 star luxury hotel in Guangzhou, built in 1983 by Hong Kong billionaire Henry Fok Ying-tung 霍英東 for welcoming the British delegations in town for the negotiation of the return of Hong Kong. And within this hotel are two Michelin restaurants. Jade River 玉堂春暖 was the first to receive a Michelin star. And its spinoff dim sum restaurant followed soon.

If you cannot get a table at the super popular Jade River (which only serves dim sum from 11am), you can come earlier to Hongtu Hall 宏图府, which serves dim sum from 9am. You can enjoy the favourite Cantonese morning tea ritual of Guangzhou people of yumcha here. The skilled dim sum chef skilfully refines traditional and classic Cantonese dim sum and constantly invents new ones to suit shifting palates.

不知年生普 Non-Vintage Pu-er Tea

This pu-er tea is different from the usual one as it was not fermented like the usual, and it cannot be kept long. The tea has that distinct, slightly sour aftertaste of Pu-er though.

榄仁萨其马 Crispy Flour Cake

Sachima is a sweet snack in Chinese cuisine made of fluffy strands of fried batter bound together with a stiff sugar syrup. It originated in Manchuria and is now popular throughout China. Its decoration and flavour vary in different regional Chinese cuisines, but the appearance of all versions is essentially the same, somewhat similar to that of Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats. This version was way better in terms of softness (not soggy), fluffiness and the mild sweetness.

酥皮叉烧包 Baked Bun Stuffed with BBQ Pork

There’s nothing wrong with this baked version of the BBQ pork buns that was made popular by Tim Ho Wan, the first dim sum restaurant in Hong Kong to get that star. It was one of the most popular item on the menu here too.

鱼翅上汤饺 Shark’s Fin Dumpling in Superior Soup

I felt weird waiting for Darling to join me, so I ordered a single portion of the dumpling in soup. One of the best I have had in years, full of ingredients and wonderful broth.

陈皮泥丁肉片粥 Congee with Sandworm & Peel

No, not the sandworm from Dune but smaller versions found in the mudbanks along the coasts. Sandworm, also known as “naked star worm”, “checkered star worm” and “sea ginseng”, nourishes yin and lowers heat in the body, clears lungs and relieves cough, invigorates spleen and diuresis, while providing collagen according to TCM . The dried mandarin peel is used to reduce the muddy taste of the sandworm. The umami from the sandworm was delicious.

鸳鸯牛肉肠粉 Steamed Rice Flour Rolls

The rice flour was thin and smooth, wrapping some savoury minced beef and pork. The sauce was very well concocted, just the right amount of saltiness and sweetness.

蜜汁蒸风爪 Steamed Chicken Feet

All the right flavours of dried orange peel and hoisin sauce, I simply love the way they were meticulously cut at the proper angle for easy eating.

金银蒜蒸排骨 Steamed Spareribs with Garlic

Cubes of yam and spare ribs steamed with garlic and a fermented yellow bean sauce, their version was very flavourful but not salty like most versions out there. Another big difference, they used yellow bean instead of black bean sauce.

四色虾饺 Steamed Shrimps Dumpling

This is one of the innovative dim sum. The traditional shrimp dumpling is incorporated with three more flavours – wasabi, mala and black truffle. No prize for guessing which is which.

The dumpling skin was made using fruit juice mixing with flour to obtain the different colours.

The dim sum served here was above average and not over expensive. The tea quality was tip top – I really enjoyed the service of a dedicated tea lady in making the pu-er for me at table side. It used to be just a spin-off from the main attraction, but the dim sum kitchen was well deserved the Michelin on its own. The restaurants do not take reservation for non-hotel guests, so please come early to get a queue number. You will know by 11 am if you can dine there for the day.

Hongtu Hall 宏图府 – White Swan Hotel 白天鹅宾馆
No.1 Shamian South Street, Guangzhou 510133 China
广州市荔湾区沙面南街1号 邮编: 510133
Tel : +86 (20) 8188 6968 Ext 30865 

Visited Mar 2024

Michelin Guangzhou Guide 1 Star 2021-2023