In 2024, Shanghai Pear-Syrup Candy Food Factory, a time-honored Shanghai brand over 170 years old and a national-level intangible cultural heritage (ICH) enterprise, officially established its presence in Fengcheng Town, Fengxian District. Under the leadership of Zhou Rongrong, the fourth-generation national-level ICH bearer and factory manager, the centuries-old craft of pear syrup candy has taken root in Fengcheng. That same year, the enterprise was designated a National-Level ICH Productive Protection Demonstration Base, marking a new chapter in the brand's legacy.

Pear syrup candy is one of Shanghai's most iconic foods with dual medicinal and culinary value. Made by simmering freshly pressed pear juice with rock sugar and a blend of traditional Chinese medicinal and food-grade herbs, it is more than a confection: for generations of Shanghainese, it carries the taste of home. "The production process is intricate and exacting," says Zhou. "It involves eleven steps: ingredient selection, sugar boiling, sand-turning, sugar pouring, sugar scoring, sugar flipping, and sugar breaking, among others." Each stage tests the artisan's skill, demanding precise control over heat and technique. The repeated sand-turning process is key to achieving the candy's signature granular texture.

Beyond pear syrup candy, the factory's medicinal pear paste is equally central to its product lineup. The factory holds the distinction of being the only food manufacturer in China approved to incorporate medicinal herbs into its products. Its classic medicinal pear paste formula, refined across generations, adheres to a fixed blend of 13 Chinese medicinal herbs. Premium ingredients are combined with a pear paste base and prepared according to traditional methods, undergoing multiple rounds of boiling, filtering, and concentration to preserve the natural properties that soothe the lungs, throat, and dryness.

Looking ahead, Shanghai Pear Syrup Candy Food Factory will continue to uphold traditional craftsmanship, deepen product innovation, and revitalize ICH culture, strengthening Fengcheng's profile as a cultural and tourism destination and breathing new life into a centuries-old intangible heritage.