Suizhou ginkgo, locally referred to as "baiguo" (white fruit), is one of the oldest surviving seed plants. Botanists often compare ginkgos to dinosaurs, and it is known as the "panda of the plant world." Ginkgo falls under the category of dried fruits, ranking third in economic value among numerous dried nuts. Suizhou ginkgo...
The water in the Danjiangkou Reservoir is not only crystal clear and sweet but also rich in fishery resources, with dozens of varieties such as topmouth culter, yellow croaker, and sardines. Among them, the Danjiangkou topmouth culter has been included in the list of national geographical indication protected products. On the boats on the reservoir below the Danjiangkou Dam, the Danjiang Whole Fish Feast is gaining increasing popularity among local residents, and...
Jinzhuangyan Tribute Rice During the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty, after Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di ascended to the throne, he exclusively revered Taoism and extensively constructed Wudang Taoist temples. In the 10th year of Yongle (1412), an imperial edict was issued for large-scale construction at Wudang. By the 17th year of Yongle (1419), Marquis Longping Zhang Xin and Imperial Son-in-law Mu Xin were ordered to lead 300,000 laborers in a major renovation of Mount Wudang. As the gateway to Mount Wudang—Junzhou (now Danjiangkou City)—naturally became the seat of a primary local government and a hub for both land and water passenger and cargo transportation. Of particular importance, Junzhou also established the “Office of the Imperial Commissioner (Eunuch Superintendent’s Office),” responsible for managing the repair of the emperor’s ancestral temple, preparing for imperial sacrificial ceremonies, and procuring tribute goods. In the 12th year of the Ming Chenghua era, Junzhou began overseeing military and civil affairs across eight prefectures in three provinces of Huguang. During this period, local officials in Junzhou often presented local specialties to the “Office of the Imperial Commissioner” for consumption, among which Jinzhuangyan rice stood out—crystal clear, soft, fragrant, and delicious—which greatly pleased the officials of the commissioner’s office. As a result, Jinzhuangyan rice became a premium staple used to entertain distinguished guests at the office. Over time, the reputation of Jinzhuangyan rice grew ever larger. Marquis Longping Zhang Xin and Imperial Son-in-law Mu Xin then presented the rice to Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di for tasting. The emperor praised it highly and bestowed upon Zhang Xin and Mu Xin the honor of offering it to the court, instructing that it be served to high-ranking officials and nobles, and granting it the status of an imperial tribute rice. Thus, during the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty, the fame of Jinzhuangyan rice spread far and wide, being offered as an annual tribute without fail.
Wudang Liquor – The geographical indication product protection area of Wudang Liquor covers the administrative regions currently under the jurisdiction of three subdistrict offices: Wudang Mountain Scenic Area Office, Wudang Mountain Subdistrict Office, and Taiji Lake Subdistrict Office, all within the Wudang Mountain Tourism Economic Special Zone, Shiyan City, Hubei Province. Refer to “Letter on Defining the Protection Scope of the Geographical Indication Product ‘Wudang Liquor’” issued by the Administrative Committee of Wudang Mountain Special Zone, Document No. Wu Quan Han [2014] 7…
Junzhou sun-cured tobacco is a specialty of Danjiangkou, Shiyan City, Hubei Province. Junzhou Famous Sun-Cured Tobacco is a type of local light-colored sun-yellow tobacco. It is processed using traditional curing methods including stringing tobacco leaves on ropes and hanging them on drying racks to wither and yellow, sun-drying on the ground to fix the color, sunning by day and stacking at night to enhance moisture, outdoor pile fermentation, grading and bundling followed by secondary fermentation. The tobacco leaves are bright and pure in color, mild in flavor, rich in aroma…
Danjiangkou Bighead Carp is a specialty of Danjiangkou City, Shiyan, Hubei Province. Commonly known as "Ma Lian" or "Fathead Fish," Danjiangkou Bighead Carp has received national organic product certification for four consecutive years. As the saying goes, "The beauty of bighead carp lies in its head," and it enjoys an excellent reputation in the market. Leveraging the unique water quality, depth, aquatic environment, as well as geographical and cultural resources of the Danjiangkou Reservoir, the city has...
The unique natural environment, water conditions, and cultural factors of the Danjiangkou Reservoir endow Danjiangkou Green Shrimp with distinctive sensory qualities and intrinsic characteristics. In February this year, it obtained national organic product certification. Currently, the annual total production of "Danjiangkou Green Shrimp" across 12 towns and districts in the city reaches 2,300 tons, generating an income of 92 million yuan. Among the commonly seen...
Danjiangkou Zuihou is originally an indigenous fish species of the Yangtze River and Han River. Due to the construction of the Danjiangkou Dam, it has thrived in a specific environment (water quality, temperature, acidity, and light), becoming a regionally distinctive product. It is characterized by an upturned mouth, a 10–15 mm red stripe under the eyes, bulging back muscles, a bluish-gray back, a silvery-white belly, and lateral line...
Danjiangkou is known as the "Water Capital of China" and is home to over 40 varieties of precious fish, primarily including mandarin fish, yellowcheek, and whitebait. In 2008, "Danjiangkou Topmouth Culter" was included in the national list of geographical indication protected products by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, becoming the first live fish species to receive such recognition in China. The certification of "Danjiangkou Yellowcheek"...
Scientific name: Brassica rapa var. crispa (wrinkled-leaf black-oil Chinese cabbage), commonly known as Bubble Green. Appearance: Leaves are dark green to nearly black, bubble-shaped, uniformly dark in color, thick and tender in texture. Origin: Around Suizhou City to Zaoyang City in Hubei Province. Region Introduction: Suizhou Bubble Green, also called black-oil Chinese cabbage, is a unique local variety from Zengdu District in Suizhou. This variety…
Suizhou Golden Honey Dates, named for their golden hue, are renowned for their plump texture, sweet-as-candy taste, sandy crispness, and rich nutrition, making them one of Hubei Province’s top ten famous products. The production of honey dates in Suizhou has a history of over two hundred years. In ancient times, Emperor Renzong once praised them, saying “Suizhou honey dates are better than fresh peaches.” After the liberation, the production of honey dates saw significant development...
Cheyun Maojian is a traditional famous Chinese tea, produced in Cheyun Mountain in the northern part of Suizhou City. The tea from Cheyun Mountain has a long history. As early as the 32nd year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty, the tea plant was introduced from Lu'an and cultivated locally. Through meticulous processing by skilled tea farmers, the tea is crafted into tight, slender, round, and straight leaves with visible tips. It boasts a high aroma, mellow taste, sweet and cool aftertaste that promotes saliva production, along with tender green color and clear, bright leafy liquor...
Black fungus is one of the unique mountain delicacies of the Dahong Mountain area. The green forest fungus has large, thick caps, is highly nutritious, and contains eight essential amino acids and vitamins required by the human body. It offers high nutritional value and certain medicinal benefits. Rich in gelatinous substances, black fungus has a beneficial cleansing effect on the human digestive system, helping to clear impurities, cleanse the intestines…
Shennong Plum is a new specialty developed in Suizhou and has been listed as a flagship product of the city's diversified operations. This variety is an excellent hybrid of peach and plum, known for its high yield, pure taste, and sweet, delicious flavor, making it very popular among consumers. Initially successfully trial-planted in Shuanghe Town, Suixi (western Suizhou), it was later promoted citywide. The annual production of Shennong Plum reaches 18,000 tons, with promising market demand…
The Hongshan Chicken from Suixian is one of China’s renowned "Three-Yellow" chicken breeds, originating from the northern foothills of the Dahongshan Mountain Range. It was gradually developed through long-term selective breeding by local residents who favored chickens with yellow feathers, beaks, and shanks, and has a history spanning nearly two hundred years. The Hongshan Chicken is dual-purpose for both eggs and meat, known for being easily fattened, having thin skin, tender meat, delicious flavor, and strong hybrid vigor...
Daylilies, commonly known as golden needles, have the scientific name Hemerocallis and were historically called "forget-worry flowers." They belong to the lily family and are the flower buds of a perennial herbaceous plant. Daylilies are fresh and tender in taste, rich in nutrients, containing abundant pollen, sugar, protein, vitamin C, calcium, fat, carotene, amino acids, and other essential nutrients required by the human body. The carotene content is even several times higher than that of tomatoes. Daylilies have a sweet and cool nature, offering benefits such as stopping bleeding, reducing inflammation, clearing heat, promoting diuresis, aiding digestion, improving vision, and calming the nerves. They are effective in treating conditions like hematemesis, bloody stools, urinary blockage, insomnia, and insufficient lactation, and can be used as a nourishing food after illness or childbirth. Before cooking, soak them in clean water, remove the stemmed ends, rinse thoroughly, and then prepare them. Daylilies are often paired with vegetarian ingredients like black fungus, or cooked into soups and stir-fries with eggs, chicken, or meat, making for a highly nutritious dish.
Cheyun Maojian is a renowned traditional Chinese tea, produced in Cheyun Mountain in the northern part of Suizhou City. The tea from Cheyun Mountain boasts a long history — as early as the 32nd year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1906), it was introduced and cultivated from Lu’an. Through meticulous processing by skilled tea farmers, it has been crafted into an exceptional tea that features tightly rolled, slender, straight leaves with visible leaf tips; it offers a fragrant, mellow taste with a sweet, cool sensation that promotes saliva production, along with a tender green color and clear, bright liquor…
Guangshui cured and preserved dog meat is a specialty dish from Guangshui City, Suizhou, Hubei Province. With a long history and unique preparation method, Guangshui cured and preserved dog meat is known for its savory, tender, and smooth texture. Originally named Yingshan County, Guangshui City has a tradition of curing dog meat that dates back over 130 years. The preparation method is said to be related to Chen Yucheng, the famous Yingwang (King of Ying) general of the Taiping Rebellion. Guangshui cured and preserved dog meat…
The preparation method for “Ying Mountain Sliding Meat” is as follows: Ingredients — 750g pork fatback, 200g pork broth, 25g wet starch, 5g each of salt and soy sauce, 3g each of chopped scallions and MSG, 2g each of pepper and egg, 1g minced ginger, 1000g vegetable oil. Preparation Technique — 1. Remove the skin from the pork...
Flower Mountain Water Shield is a specialty of Huashan Reservoir in Guangshui City, Suizhou, Hubei Province. Water shield, an aquatic perennial herbaceous plant of the Nymphaeaceae family, has been regarded as a delicacy among vegetables since ancient times, with its tender stems and leaves used for consumption. Every 100 grams of fresh water shield contains 745 milligrams of protein, along with various vitamins, minerals, pectin, and amino acids…