Papaya is the mature fruit of the deciduous shrub plants Chaenomeles speciosa or Carica papaya from the Rosaceae family. The former is commonly known as “wrinkled-skin papaya,” while the latter is called “smooth-skin papaya.” It is mainly produced in Anhui, Zhejiang, Hubei, Sichuan, and other regions. The papaya from Xuancheng, Anhui, is known as “Xuan Papaya” and is of higher quality. The fruits are harvested when they turn greenish-yellow during summer and autumn. Wrinkled-skin papaya is scalded in water until the outer skin turns grayish-white, then split vertically in half and dried in the sun; smooth-skin papaya is cut into two or four sections, blanched in boiling water, and then dried. It is sliced and used fresh.
Fritillaria is a commonly used herb for relieving phlegm and cough. It refers to the dried bulbs of Fritillaria cirrhosa and Fritillaria thunbergii, both plants in the Liliaceae family. Fritillaria cirrhosa is mainly produced in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Gansu provinces of China, while Fritillaria thunbergii is primarily grown in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui. Fritillaria cirrhosa tastes bitter and sweet, with a slightly cold nature; Fritillaria thunbergii tastes bitter and has a cold nature. Both are associated with the lung and heart meridians. …
Binhai County has long been known as the “Hometown of Polygonum Multiflorum.” Legend has it that the plant has been cultivated here since the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty. Polygonum multiflorum is a nourishing food that can also be used medicinally. Leveraging this local specialty, Binhai County established a polygonum multiflorum products factory. The Zongqu Brand Refined White Polygonum Multiflorum Powder is made from the tuberous roots of the plant, which undergo cleaning, peeling, impurity removal, crushing, sieving, powder milk precipitation,...
Heming Fernbrake -- 2015 National Famous, Special, and High-quality New Agricultural Product In China’s fernbrake industry chain, Heming County is the only one included in the National Spark Program by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the only one recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture as a Green Food Development Center for Wild Vegetables. Hubei Province’s Heming County has built China’s largest fernbrake production and export base, transforming what was once wild mountain vegetation into today’s valuable foreign exchange earner. Fernbrake exports from Heming account for 70% of the total southern output and 80% of Hubei Province’s.
Walking Horse papaya is a specialty of Zouma Town, Hefeng County, Enshi Prefecture, Hubei Province. The agricultural center of Zouma Town places great emphasis on delivering science and technology directly to farmers. Based on the actual conditions of each village, they provide tailored guidance at the right time, vigorously developing the production of medicinal materials such as papaya, achieving modest success. Papaya is often referred to as the "king of beneficial fruits." Its fruit is edible…
Heming Grayleaf Vegetable is a specialty of Heming County in Enshi Prefecture, Hubei Province. Also known as lamb’s quarters or Chenopodium album, it goes by various names such as wild grayleaf, gray knotweed, and more. It is an annual herbaceous plant of the Amaranthaceae family. Grayleaf vegetable commonly grows along field edges, in the wild, by roadsides, and around houses. It has a sweet and mild flavor, and offers benefits such as clearing heat, promoting diuresis, lowering blood pressure, relieving pain, killing parasites, and stopping diarrhea. Both the young seedlings and…
Sliced Potatoes with Preserved Pork was probably recommended to me for the task because it’s just so delicious. Amid everyone’s teasing, I didn’t put up much of a fight. Come to think of it, even if you’ve never eaten pork, you’ve at least seen a pig run. Tujia cuisine features pork as its main ingredient, especially “preserved pork.” The making of preserved pork is all...
Suodiu “Suodiu” is a little-known secret dish of the Rongmei Tusi, originating in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties from the imaginative ideas of the Tujia ancestors. “Suodiu” involves placing small stones seasoned with spices into the mouth to be sucked and savored before being spit out and discarded—illustrating just how unique it is. Legend has it that Tian Tuwang had tasted all the delicacies under heaven…
The "Mermaid" of the Nandu River The Nandu River is a river that flows between two large mountains. In winter, its waters are not very abundant, quietly meandering southward. Spanning the Nandu River is an arched bridge that connects the highway, which we often have to cross. On both sides of the bridge sit several small farmhouses. The "mermaid" of the Nandu River I want to talk about was discovered here.
Gynostemma is a herbaceous vine of the Cucurbitaceae family, commonly found in subtropical and northern subtropical regions, with most distribution in provinces south of the Qinling Mountains in China. According to surveys and research, Pingli in Shaanxi Province, due to its unique climate and relatively superior natural environment, is highly suitable for the growth of Gynostemma. There are 13 species worldwide, 11 in China...
Kuche knives and scissors have been famous since ancient times. During the Han and Tang dynasties, they were taken by Silk Road merchants to Central and West Asia for sale. By the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty, they were regarded as a symbol of noble status when worn by members of the imperial court, eunuchs, and wealthy individuals. After the liberation, especially from the 1980s onward, various carved handmade knives from Kuche were listed as key tourism products. (Kuche)…
Provincial mineral water (water temperature (Huangzhong)…
are mammals and are classified as first-class animals under national key protection. (Xianfeng)…
Xianfeng Atractylodes is a variety of traditional Chinese medicinal herb and a specialty of Xianfeng County, Hubei Province. The cultivation of Atractylodes in Xianfeng has a long history. Thanks to the region’s unique geographical, soil, and climatic conditions, as well as advanced farming techniques, Xianfeng’s chicken-leg-shaped Atractylodes—compared to the frog-shaped varieties dominant in other producing areas—features higher active ingredient content, is green and pollution-free, and offers...
In the folk tradition of Xianfeng, during the hot summer months, rural households often use a certain type of leaf to make a kind of "tofu" for consumption. This leaf-made "tofu" is locally called Divine Tofu or Guanyin Tofu. Legend has it that the Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin) taught the poor how to make this tofu from the leaves of such trees to stave off hunger during times of famine. The small tree whose leaves can be used to make Divine Tofu...
Tujia Baked Cake, also known as Crumbly Baked Cake or Shaking Crumbly Baked Cake, gets its name from the crispy outer layer that sheds crumbs with even the slightest shake after baking, earning it the nickname “Chinese Pizza.” It is one of the most distinctive local snacks in the Enshi region, with the “Tian Baked Cake” made by the Tian Fayong family in Liujiaoting, Old Town Enshi, being a typical and representative example. The “Tian Baked Cake” is a traditional family recipe, renowned far and wide.
"Xilankapu" is a unique gem among the ethnic crafts of the Tujia people. Also known as "Dahua Pugai" (literally "flower-embroidered quilt cover"), it is a type of Tujia brocade. With its distinctive craftsmanship and exquisite patterns, it is ranked among China's five great brocades. In Tujia tradition, girls begin learning colorful weaving from the ages of eleven or twelve. A Tujia girl must have her own handwoven Dahua Pugai as part of her dowry when she gets married. As a result, Tujia girls work diligently from dawn to dusk before their weddings, carefully crafting their beloved Dahua Pugai. Regarding the origin of the Dahua Pugai, there is a legend passed down in Tujia regions: in ancient times, there was a skillful woman named Xilan who wove 100 different floral patterns into her Xilankapu. Later, she was envied by her sister-in-law, who falsely accused her of sneaking out at night to meet someone, bringing shame to the family. Her brother, persuaded by his wife, tragically killed her. When the news spread, Tujia girls deeply mourned her and named the colorful brocade she wove as "Dahua Pugai," which then became a traditional part of a Tujia bride’s dowry. Nowadays, each Dahua Pugai is made by joining three pieces of Xilankapu together.
The area of Huaping Township in Jianshi County has long been known as the "Tobacco Township" due to its extensive cultivation of burley tobacco…
Since 1580, the eighth year of the Wanli era in the Ming Dynasty, when Italian missionary Matteo Ricci first came to China to spread Christianity, and later when Belgian missionaries introduced this chicken breed to Jingyang, it has been naturally crossbred and domesticated over many years. Documented in various sources, it grows to about 5 kilograms per year and is considered one of the premium tonic foods. The Jingyang Chicken is a relatively large meat-type…
Jingyang White Pomelo originated in Jingyang Town, where it has been cultivated for over 100 years. It is renowned for its large size, vibrant color, abundant juice, rich flavor, crisp and tender texture that melts in the mouth, balanced sweetness and acidity, excellent quality, and absence of off-flavors. In 1995, it was recognized as a high-quality pomelo at the National Pomelo Evaluation Conference. The town currently has 50,000 bearing trees, with an annual production of 70…