Wanjia Tianjin…
Dafan Sesame Cake is a specialty of Dafan Town, Tongshan County, Xianning City, Hubei Province. With a long history, Dafan Sesame Cake from Tongshan was hailed as a “culinary marvel” in the Huguang region during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is flavorful and enjoyable to chew, making it an irresistible treat. As a famous local product of Tongshan, it originates from Dafan Town—hence the name Dafan Sesame Cake—and is considered a standout among Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes…
Its aroma smoked over firewood, its flavor layered with festive joy—just a bite brings back memories to this day.…
Jiugong Mountain in Tongshan County is one of Hubei’s popular summer retreats. Among the moss-covered rocks lives a type of stone chicken (a kind of frog), each weighing around 250 grams, with tender and flavorful meat. Braised Nine Palaces Stone Chicken uses plump leg meat, cooked with scallions, ginger, broth, and other seasonings over low heat until tender and falling apart. MSG, pepper, sugar, …
The village of Yinsui in Dafan Town has a history of over 200 years of cultivating loquat trees, introduced from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions. Nestled within a small basin surrounded by mountains, the area enjoys a mild and moist climate, ideal for loquat growth. With hundreds of households, nearly every home—whether in front of or behind their houses, or at the edges of fields—has planted loquat trees, totaling more than 2,000 trees. The larger...
Located in Chenshui Mountain (also known as Tianti) in the central part of Tongshan County, this area is an important chestnut production base in Tongshan and is renowned as the “Hometown of Chestnuts.” Historical records indicate that the region has been producing chestnuts abundantly since the Qing Dynasty. Tianti chestnuts come in a variety of types, mainly including Zaosu (Early Chestnut), Hongguangsu (Red Glow Chestnut), Yangmaosu (Woolly Chestnut), and Yousu (Oily Chestnut), each with its own distinct flavor. Zaosu has a…
Gemflower Red fruit is large, averaging 20 fruits per jin (500g). The stems are short and slightly crooked, the skin is thin with abundant flesh, the pits are small with no residue, and the taste is sweet and sandy without sourness. When processed, it can be turned into an effective remedy for indigestion and food stagnation, stimulating saliva production, improving appetite, and enhancing the desire to eat. Gemflower Red soaked in stored snowmelt water with white sugar can treat dysentery. Brewing green or red Gemflower Red leaves or...
Wanjia is located in a hilly area, with an average elevation of about 600 meters. The region is shrouded in fog for nearly 140 days a year, and the average annual temperature is around 25°C. Known as the "Little Jiugong" in Tongshan, it is a semi-alpine region with a climate highly suitable for persimmon growth. Persimmon trees can be found everywhere in Wanjia—around houses, along field paths, and throughout the mountains...
Jinsha Pickles mainly come in two varieties: red chili peppers and fresh bamboo shoots. The red chili peppers are large, thick-fleshed, with few seeds and a delicious flavor, suitable for all ages, and can stimulate the appetite. The fresh bamboo shoots are made through high-temperature sterilization and vacuum packaging, featuring bright colors, a crisp texture, and a tasty bite. They are currently a best-selling eco-friendly green food on the market. …
Meat Cake is a famous dish in the Xianning region, but it holds a special place in the hearts of people from Chibi. Eating meat cake has become a local tradition. It is an indispensable dish at weddings, funerals, and other celebratory banquets, often served as the first course. There's even a saying among locals: "No banquet is complete without meat cake."…
Tianti Chestnuts grow in Chenshui Mountain (also known as Tianti), located in the central part of Tongshan County, which is an important chestnut production base in the county and is well known as the “Hometown of Chestnuts.” According to historical records, the area has been abundant in chestnuts since the Qing Dynasty. Tianti Chestnuts come in various varieties, mainly including Zaosu (Early Chestnut), Hongguangsu (Red Glossy Chestnut), Yangmaosu (Woolly Chestnut), and Yousu (Oily Chestnut). Each variety offers a unique flavor. Zaosu has a reddish shell with a tender and crisp texture inside, and a sweet, fragrant taste; …
Before the Qing Dynasty, citrus cultivation had already been practiced in Tongshan County, with varieties mainly including Xiangyuan, Paogan, and Bagon. In 1979, leading government agencies and research institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences successively sent personnel to Tongshan for investigation, experimentation, and technology transfer. They decided to distribute citrus seedlings free of charge to both collectives and individuals without distinction. By...
Tongshan Xiangfei – Tongshan County Xiangfei Industry Association Xiangfei is a rare and unique dried fruit native to China, rich in nutrients and distinctive in flavor. Tongshan boasts abundant Xiangfei tree resources. Just in Linshang Village, Xiapu Town, there are over 300 Xiangfei trees aged over 100 years, along with more than 1,000 young and mature Xiangfei trees. According to experts on Chinese Xiangfei, the area suitable for Xiangfei cultivation in Tongshan…
Tongshan Sesame Cake is a specialty of Tongshan in Xianning City, Hubei Province. The Dafan Sesame Cake from Tongshan has a long history. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, merchants traveled along the Fushui River to the Yangtze River to conduct business, bringing commercial opportunities and prosperity to Dafan Street in the middle reaches of the Fushui River. Legend has it that the sesame cake was first created by the Ruan family and was considered a “culinary marvel” in the Huguang region at the time...
The Tongshan Black-Bone Goat is a specialty of Tongshan County in Xianning City, Hubei Province. Its fur, skin, bones, lips, tongue, and oral cavity are all black in color. The Black-Bone Goat is a highly valuable meat goat breed with great development potential. The Tongshan Black-Bone Goat is a national agricultural product with geographical indication protection. This goat variety has newly emerged in the Dongting Lake region...
Yanxia is known as a “land of aquatic products.” The smoked and grilled fish from Yanxia boasts excellent color, aroma, and taste, and has long been famous in Tongshan. The authentic version primarily uses fish such as the hook-ma fish, ship nail fish, red-tailed fish, and topmouth culter—species native to the Fushui River. The resulting grilled fish is thick-fleshed, delicate, and has very few bones. Of course, other types of fish can also be used, but the resulting dried grilled fish will be much inferior and therefore cheaper. The preparation of smoked and grilled fish is highly particular about the process: first is washing—the fish are gutted, cleaned thoroughly inside and out, then rinsed repeatedly with clean water. Second is steaming—the cleaned fish are lightly salted and steamed over medium heat in a large pot; the steaming time depends on the quantity of fish and continues until they are fully cooked. Third is drying—the cooked fish are placed one by one on bamboo sticks to dry. Care must be taken when handling the fish to prevent them from breaking. The drying time should not be too long—just enough to remove the moisture after steaming. Fourth is smoking, which is the crucial step. The dried fish are placed on a wire rack to be smoked; an open flame must not be used, and the best fuels are sawdust and rice husks. Tangerine peels can also be added during smoking. The smoke should not be too thick or too light, and the fish need to be turned over at intervals. If one round isn’t enough, a second turning may be needed. During the day, the fish can also be sun-dried. The final product is light yellow in color, fragrant, and can be eaten raw.
Cikou Hollow Noodles are a renowned traditional product from Cikou in Tongshan. First created in 1853 at Zhu Yuesheng’s Oil Noodle Shop, they have a history of 130 years. The noodles are characterized by their slender, hollow shape and the ability to be recooked without becoming mushy. The main ingredients include refined flour, tea oil, and salt. The key to making them lies in the noodle-kneading technique. During the kneading process, one must use all ten fingers…
During the Republic of China era, "Fuyou Street," located in the hinterlands of Tongshan, served as a hub for the trade of agricultural and sideline products within a radius of dozens of kilometers. The area boasted thousands of acres of fertile land and abundant produce. The present-day "Fuyou" (Rich) derives its name phonetically from the former "Fuyou" (Oil). Over a hundred households lived on Fuyou Street, where business was thriving, especially several renowned noodle shops that enjoyed great fame throughout Tongshan County...
The Shalong River and Hengshi River in Hengshi originate from the northern and northwestern foothills of Jiugong Mountain respectively. With its high elevation and dense forests, Jiugong Mountain provides high-quality water. After flowing dozens of miles and undergoing natural mineralization, the water is filtered through deep layers of sand and then purified by the water treatment plant. The water is non-alkaline, which results in tofu that is both white and soft. The people of Hengshi insist on using pure, shelled soybeans as the raw material, eliminating any astringent taste, …
Yangfang Township is the main production area of black beans in southeastern Hubei, yielding 600,000 kilograms annually. The soy sauce and fermented black beans made from locally grown black beans possess the natural, rich flavors of unadulterated food. As early as the Kangxi and Qianlong eras of the Qing Dynasty, they were listed as tribute items renowned throughout the land, a reputation that has lasted for over 300 years. Yangfang soy sauce and fermented black beans are celebrated for their rich aroma, mellow taste, thick and refreshing broth, and their ability to stimulate the appetite and strengthen the spleen...