Traditional tanghulu fair held in Qingdao, east China's Shandong

People select Tangqiu, or "tanghulu", a traditional Chinese snack of candied fruit, at an annual traditional tanghulu fair in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province (photo: Wang Haibin/Guangming Picture)

Tanghulu (pinyin: táng húlú; literally "sugar gourd"), also called bīng táng húlú (bīng meaning "ice"), is a popular traditional winter snack in northern China, especially in Beijing, and particularly for children. It consists of candied fruits on bamboo skewers that are approximately 20cm long.

Tanghulu typically has a hardened sugar coating but versions can also be found with a second chocolate coating, or sprinkles. The fruits used are traditionally Chinese hawthorn but in recent times vendors have also used strawberries, blueberries, pineapples, kiwifruit, or grapes, resembling a fruit kebab.