Resident in the Yangtze River basin and the vast regions south of the river. The Red-billed Leiothrix is about 14 cm in length. It has a bright red beak; its upper body is olive green, with a light yellow face; its wings feature distinct reddish-yellow wing patches, while its chin, throat, and chest are a brilliant yellow or orange, and its belly is pale yellow. It inhabits plains up to mountainous areas at elevations of 200…
[Source] *Orthopedics in Traditional Chinese Medicine* [Ingredients] 10g deer antler, 30g Chinese yam, 0.5L white spirit [Function] Nourishes kidney yang, enriches essence and blood, strengthens tendons and bones. [Indications] Deficiency fatigue and essence depletion in men, deficiency of both essence and blood, impotence, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, aversion to cold and lack of strength, weak bones and fatigue, enuresis and spermatorrhea,…
Youxian rice noodles are a specialty of Youxian County, Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province. Youxian noodles are a local variety of rice noodles from Youxian County, Zhuzhou, Hunan. They have a delicate, smooth, and tender texture, and can be prepared in various ways, making them widely loved by the public. Image: Youxian noodles are made using methods largely similar to those of commonly known rice noodles, primarily using rice as the main ingredient,…
Youxian Fragrant Tofu Pot is a distinctive rural farmhouse dish. The fragrant tofu used in this dish is a type of dried tofu, all made by an experienced master from Youxian County, Hunan. It is made from pure soybeans, reportedly without any additives, and produced using traditional methods. It is cooked in an earthen pot, which is said to make the tofu even more richly flavored...
Youxian Blood Duck is a classic Hunan dish. The process begins with selecting the liveliest and freshest young local duck, which is then slaughtered, allowing the duck blood to flow into a bowl containing cooking wine. The duck is plucked, gutted, and cut into pieces, then stir-fried in hot oil along with ginger, red chili peppers, and garlic cloves. Next, it is simmered with fresh broth until most of the liquid has evaporated. Finally, the duck blood is poured entirely over the pieces while continuously stirring, followed by adding seasonings and finishing the dish. The duck blood is smooth and flavorful, with properties believed to clear heat and detoxify, while the duck meat is exceptionally tender. One bite, and you won’t be able to stop—truly a delicious delicacy!
Youxian tofu enjoys widespread fame, including fragrant dried tofu, hundred-sheet tofu from Taoshui, water tofu from Huangtuling, and oil tofu from Yajiangqiao. The production of Youxian tofu has a long history. According to the "Youxian County Annals," during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Youxian tofu flourished as an industry and was renowned throughout the region. Many tofu artisans in Youxian…
Chili sauce originally originated in Hunan and Hubei provinces and is a common seasoning used in both Xiang cuisine and E cuisine. The traditional method involves washing fresh red chili peppers, drying off their surface moisture, then finely chopping them. A certain proportion of minced ginger and refined salt is then added, mixed well, and packed into a jar. After being sealed and pickled for about half a month, the sauce is ready. In recent years, chili sauce has been widely used across various...
Youxian Ma Duck is a well-known local egg-laying duck breed in Hunan Province. Its feathers are a mix of yellow-brown and black, creating a mottled appearance, hence the name "Ma" (mottled) Duck. It is characterized by its small size, fast growth, early maturity, high egg production, efficient feed conversion, and strong adaptability. Youxian Ma Ducks typically grow full feathers between 70–75 days of age, and at 90 days old…
Fuli eggplants are a specialty of Fuli Town, Liling City, Zhuzhou, Hunan Province. These eggplants are vibrant in color, delicious in taste, with thin skin and tender flesh. They are highly resistant to humidity and low light/temperature conditions, typically hitting the market in mid-to-late April — making them one of the earliest-producing bases in Hunan and even the entire Yangtze River basin. In addition to meeting local market demand, Fuli eggplants are also widely distributed across the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan area and beyond.
Widely produced in Liling, it features a bright color, thick flesh, few seeds, and a slightly sweet taste. It is an important agricultural export product of Liling. Known for its glossy and translucent appearance, it is hailed as "glass chili" and was exported abroad as early as ancient times. …
Liling is also the hometown of Li Tian, the progenitor of fireworks. The production of fireworks has a long history and is widespread across both urban and rural areas. Liling fireworks have traveled a path from decline to glory in their entrepreneurial journey, achieving a transformation from single-product offerings to a diverse range, from traditional production techniques that spanned thousands of years to a combination of those traditions with modern technological advancements, and from primarily domestic sales to a balanced focus on both export and domestic markets. The output value of Liling fireworks ranks among the top in major producing counties (cities) nationwide, and they are sold to over 80 countries, regions, and throughout China. At major fireworks events such as the ’99 Kunming World Expo, the ’99 China Pu’er Tea Festival, the 50th Anniversary National Day Celebration in the capital, and the handover of Macau, Liling fireworks shone brilliantly, captivating audiences worldwide with their enchanting charm. Alongside the development of these two traditional industries, sectors such as garments, construction, waterproof building materials, printing and packaging, and chemicals have continued to grow, forming emerging industrial clusters. The annual output value of the garment and building materials industries has exceeded 400 million yuan and 1 billion yuan respectively.
Origin: Liling, Hunan Province, China. History: Liling porcelain originated during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty and has a history of over 250 years. Historical records indicate that in the seventh year of Yongzheng (1729), a man named Liao Cuwēi from Xingning County, Guangdong Province, discovered a clay mine in Liling and brought over 20 people to produce porcelain here. At that time, only coarse porcelain could be made...
The origins of Liling fireworks can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty, boasting a history of over a thousand years, and are named after their place of production, Liling. The area is the birthplace of fireworks and the hometown of Li Tian, the progenitor of fireworks, earning it the well-deserved title of "Hometown of Fireworks."
“Famous porcelain comes from Liling.” As early as the late Qing Dynasty, Liling ceramics, known for being “white as jade, clear as a mirror, thin as paper, and resonant as chime stones,” gained fame both at home and abroad. Underglaze polychrome porcelain uses five primary colorants—red, green, blue, brown, and black—to create a rich palette of ceramic glazes. It emphasizes an elegant and understated use of color, and is produced using unique techniques such as double-line water division, brush…
China’s overglaze five-color and blue-and-white five-color porcelains are created by painting on fired white porcelain or white porcelain with certain patterns replaced by blue-and-white designs, then firing them again in the kiln. This technique originated during the Xuande era of the Ming Dynasty, flourished through the Chenghua and Wanli eras, and continued into the early Qing Dynasty during the Kangxi reign, before being eventually replaced by famille rose. Liling is an ancient yet modern city that enjoys the reputation of the “Porcelain City” and is the world-renowned birthplace of underglaze five-color porcelain. Entering the 21st century, the ceramic industry in Liling seized opportunities, revitalized itself, and carved out a new realm. Porcelain is one of China’s unique inventions, and even today, the English word for porcelain remains “china.” Liling has nearly two thousand years of ceramic production history. As far back as the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liling had large-scale workshops dedicated to pottery making. In the seventh year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1729), Liling began producing coarse porcelain. From the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic of China, the Liling ceramic industry entered a new period of development. It was during this time that underglaze five-color porcelain, which would bring worldwide fame to Liling, was born. In 1904, Xiong Xiling from Fenghuang, Hunan (who later served as the Premier of the Beiyang Government after the Xinhai Revolution), along with Wen Junduo, a scholar from Liling who had participated in the “Public Vehicle Petition,” proposed ideas such as “establishing schools and companies” based on the principle of saving the nation through industry. They combined their extensive research with Liling’s technical strengths and actual conditions to vigorously revitalize the local ceramic industry. Their efforts received strong support from the Hunan provincial government. That same year, the Hunan Official Ceramic Industry School was officially established in Liling, and the following year, the Hunan Ceramic Industry Manufacturing Company was founded in Liling, with Xiong Xiling serving as the company’s general manager and Wen Junduo as the school supervisor. The company hired Japanese technicians and Jingdezhen skilled workers, introducing the most advanced Japanese production techniques and equipment at the time, ushering in a new era for Liling—from coarse to fine porcelain production. The uniquely distinctive Liling underglaze five-color porcelain was developed under these circumstances. Using self-made underglaze pigments and employing traditional Chinese painting techniques such as double-line outlining, water separation filling, and the “three-fired process,” they produced refreshing and innovative underglaze five-color porcelain. The underglaze five-color porcelain features delicate body, exquisite painting, fresh and elegant beauty, and a unique style. Beneath the glaze layer, the vibrant colors present lifelike images, offering both high artistic and practical value. Its debut immediately garnered significant attention and acclaim from industry insiders and domestic and international media. Between 1909 and 1911, Liling underglaze five-color porcelain was exhibited at the Wuhan Industrial Exposition, the Nanyang Industrial Exposition, and the Turin International Exhibition in Italy, winning gold medals consecutively. Liling porcelain began to gain fame across China and reach the world. “White as jade, bright as a mirror, thin as paper, and resonant as chime stones” was the praise Liling porcelain earned at the time.
Liling Sauce-Flavored Duck is made by marinating, braising, and roasting an entire wild duck. It is characterized by its salty, spicy, fragrant, and savory taste. The finished product has a deep red color, rich sauce aroma, and a long-lasting flavor. The meat is dried but not tough — in simple terms, it’s chewy without being hard on the teeth, making it a great dish to enjoy with alcohol. Liling Sauce-Flavored Duck is made using…
China boasts a long and rich history, and its porcelain culture is one of the most representative aspects of its heritage. In English, both "China" (the country) and "china" (the material) share the same spelling, underscoring the profound global influence of Chinese porcelain. Underglaze colored porcelain is a traditional ceramic decoration art in China, and Liling-produced underglaze porcelain, in particular, enjoys...
Stir-fried Rice Noodles of Liling are a specialty of Liling City, Zhuzhou, Hunan Province. The rice noodles in this dish are golden yellow, tender yet chewy, while the bean sprouts are crystal clear, refreshing with a hint of sweetness, and the egg is golden brown and richly aromatic—making it a perfect combination of color, aroma, and taste. Liling, being a part of the southern rice-producing region, not only serves rice as a staple but also processes it under pressure and heat to make...
Liling Roasted Meat is a specialty of Liling City, Zhuzhou, Hunan Province. Also known as Liling cured meat, it is smoked to achieve a bright yellow hue, with saltiness deeply infused and a rich, restrained meat aroma that makes it exceptionally fragrant. Though also produced in surrounding counties and cities, Liling’s version stands out for its vibrant color, well-penetrated saltiness...
Stir-fried Pork in Liling Style is a specialty dish from Liling City, Zhuzhou, Hunan Province. This version of stir-fried pork is not greasy, yet highly nutritious, with tender meat and sweet broth. In Liling, it can be served either as a dish or as a one-pot meal. It’s a home-style dish, so the cooking method is quite flexible—different households may prepare it slightly differently, but the basic approach remains consistent. First…