Xiǎo lónɡ bāo -- Steamed bun 

Xiaolongbao(Chinese: 小笼包，pinyin: Xiǎo lónɡ bāo) is a type of steamed bun from eastern China, especially Shanghai and Wuxi. It is traditionally steamed in small bamboo baskets, hence the name (xiaolong is literally small steaming basket). Xiaolongbao are often referred to as soup dumplings or simply dumplings in English, but are not regarded as "dumplings" in China - see the pictures below.

Xiaolongbao                       Dumplings

Traditionally the xiaolongbao is a kind of dim sum or snack item. The buns are served hot in the bamboo baskets in which they were steamed, usually on a bed of dried leaves or on a woven mat, although some restaurants today use napa cabbage instead. The buns are usually dipped in Chinkiang vinegar with ginger slivers. They are traditionally served with a clear soup.

The buns are traditionally part of Jiangnan-style morning tea. In Cantonese regions and the West it is also commonly served as a Cantonese yum cha item. While not traditionally eaten as part of a main meal, some restaurants have in recent years begun serving xiaolongbao as a main dish.

Shanghai-style xiaolongbao originated in Nanxiang, a suburb of Shanghai in the Jiading District. The inventor of xiaolongbao sold them in his first store in Nanxiang next to the town's notable park, Guyi Garden. From there the xiaolongbao expanded into downtown Shanghai and outward.

Nanxiang, a suburb of Shanghai 

Two specialist xiaolongbao restaurants are often regarded as the most authentic. One is Nanxiang Mantou Dian (Nanxiang Bun Shop), which derives from the original store in Nanxiang but is now located in the City God Temple precinct. It is famed for its crab-meat-filled buns. The other is Gulong Restaurant, at the original site next to Guyi Garden in Nanxiang.

Nanxiang Mantou Dian -- Nanxiang Bun Shop