As Dragon Boat Festival season returns, Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur is bringing back one of the festival’s most anticipated traditions: handcrafted rice dumplings from Shang Palace. Available from May 1 to June 19, 2026, the collection blends classic Cantonese flavours with local Malaysian influences, giving diners more than the usual festive favourites.
The standout this year is the abalone and scallop rice dumpling, a generously filled option packed with abalone, dried scallops, chestnuts, salted egg yolk, chicken, duck, mushrooms and dried shrimp.
It is rich, savoury and clearly designed for those looking to go all out during the festive season. For something more traditional, the Cantonese-style rice dumpling keeps things familiar with a balanced mix of classic ingredients and comforting flavours.
What makes this year’s lineup more interesting is the addition of Malaysian-inspired dumplings. The ayam percik version combines glutinous rice with spiced minced chicken and Malay herbs for a lightly spiced flavour that feels familiar straight away.
The ikan bilis sambal rice dumpling leans into bold local flavours, mixing sambal, anchovies and dried shrimp in a way that calls to mind nasi lemak in dumpling form.
The rest of the selection covers a good mix of savoury and sweet options. There is the Hokkien-style black-eyed bean and chicken dumpling for those who prefer something hearty, while the Yunnan-style wild mushroom and truffle dumpling brings a more earthy, aromatic flavour profile.
On the sweeter side, the red bean alkaline rice dumpling offers a lighter finish with smooth red bean paste.
For gifting, Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur has also put together a Heritage Gift Box featuring six assorted dumplings, making it an easy option for family gatherings, office gifting or festive visits. Prices start from RM29 nett, with delivery and self-pick-up available throughout the season.
