Huoshao is a unique local snack in northern Henan, and Yanjin Huoshao stands out as the finest among them. Resembling a baked flatbread but larger, and akin to a meat bun yet crispier, Yanjin Huoshao is perfectly round, with a purplish-copper hue, a raised center, and distinct layers. It is widely loved for its generous filling, crispy exterior and tender interior, fragrant taste without being greasy, and convenience for eating. Dignitaries and visitors alike, upon arriving in Yanjin for the first time, will find that serving a few Huoshao alongside fine dishes and wine is an essential part of hospitality. For outsiders visiting Yanjin, not trying Yanjin Huoshao is much like not having yangrou paomo in Xi'an, not tasting Daokou roast chicken in Huaxian, or skipping the Forbidden City when in Beijing — truly a regrettable omission.
Braised noodles are a specialty of Henan cuisine with a long history. They are a traditional snack that combines meat, vegetables, broth, greens, and rice or noodles in one dish. Known for their delicious taste and affordability, they are famous across the Central Plains and popular throughout China. Depending on the ingredients used, braised noodles can be categorized into: lamb braised noodles, beef braised noodles, three-fresh braised noodles, five-fresh braised noodles, and more. In recent years…
Method: Bring water to a boil in a pot. Just before boiling, add a few drops of cooking oil, then briefly blanch baby bok choy and remove. Next, add three types of mushrooms (king oyster mushrooms, chicken leg mushrooms, and tea tree mushrooms) and blanch until softened. Remove and drain. Add an appropriate amount of water to the pot, then put in a concentrated soup stock cube. Stir continuously until dissolved. The soup will turn white. Once boiling, add the blanched mushrooms. …
Method: Wash and shred the pork, then marinate with starch. Soak Sichuan peppercorns in water, then remove them and reserve the peppercorn-infused water. Blanch fresh daylily buds in boiling water until just cooked, then drain and cool. Heat soybean oil in a wok, add minced scallions and ginger along with the shredded pork, and stir-fry until the pork is separated. Add cooking wine and the reserved peppercorn water, then put in the daylily buds. Pour in a bit of rice vinegar, add salt and MSG, and stir-fry until well combined…
Distributed across a relatively broad area on both the eastern and western sides of the Taihang Mountains, in the border regions of Hebei, Shanxi, and Henan provinces. In Shanxi Province, they are found in counties within the southeastern and central Shanxi areas of the eastern Taihang Mountain region. In Hebei Province, they are distributed across counties in the Baoding, Shijiazhuang, Xingtai, and Handan regions. In Henan Province, they are located in counties such as Lin County, Anyang, … in the Anyang and Xinxiang regions.
The Calligraphy Rubbings of Tang Dynasty Poems by Prince Lu Zhu Changfang of the Ming Dynasty consist of 33 pages. They were created from rubbings taken from over 300 Tang poem stone inscriptions preserved in the stele corridor of the Prince Lu Tomb. Professional artisans then selected the pages, printed them, and bound them into an album. The calligraphy styles range from dignified and graceful to dynamic and serpentine. The stone inscriptions feature various seals, each differing in shape, script style, and carving technique—each unique and distinct, with styles that are straightforward, upright, profound, and rustic, echoing the poetic and artistic essence of the verses. Zhu Changfang (1608–1646), courtesy name Zhonghe, art name Jingyi, also referred to himself as the Daoist of Jingyi, was a hereditary prince of the Ming Dynasty (the second-generation Prince Lu), enfeoffed in Weihui Prefecture (Xinxiang, Henan). In the late Ming period, he served as the Regent of the Southern Ming regime.
Safflower, also known as yellow-blue, red-blue, saffron flower, herbaceous safflower, or red-flowered weed, is the dried flower of the Asteraceae plant Carthamus tinctorius. Safflower has a long cultivation history in Weihui City. Historically, the safflower of Weihui Prefecture, the chrysanthemum of Huaiqing Prefecture, and the cotton of Zhangde Prefecture were hailed as the “Three Flowers of Northern Henan,” thus the safflower from Weihui City is known as “Wei Honghua”…
Niu Zhongxiang Sesame Cakes were highly popular at the 1980 Provincial Famous Dishes, Specialties, and Snacks Exhibition, where they were awarded the title of Provincial Quality Product and officially named “Niu Zhongxiang Sesame Cakes.” These cakes are made with strictly selected ingredients and crafted with great care, differing from others in dough preparation, ingredient mixing, processing, and heat control. Niu Zhongxiang Sesame Cakes are flaky, layered, fragrant, and…
Peach wood is also known as "Dragon-Suppressing Wood" or "Ghost-Fearing Wood," and is regarded as sacred wood. It holds an extremely important place in Chinese folk culture and beliefs, with the reputation of warding off disasters and evil spirits. Taihang Peach Wood Handicrafts are made from high-quality peach wood sourced from Tangzhuang, meticulously crafted and shaped using modern techniques into travel souvenirs. These pieces are not only ancient artistic marvels but also serve as spiritual supports for dispelling evil and…
The "Hunched Back Residence" building in Xinxiang produces braised pork that is brightly colored, richly aromatic, savory, and delicious—juicy without being greasy, and thoroughly cooked yet still tender. This is the widely renowned and uniquely flavorful "Hunched Back Pork." The preparation of Hunched Back Pork follows strict and meticulous methods: healthy pigs weighing around 65 kilograms are selected and left to rest for 20 hours after slaughter (the timing adjusted flexibly according to the season)…
Produced in Xinxian, Henan. First, they are boiled in a large pot. During boiling, sesame oil is added to the pot, along with a small amount of cardamom and purple cardamom. After boiling, the date skins do not crack and maintain a bright, glossy color. Then they are slightly air-dried with foil before being smoked. The smoking method involves smoking the dates three times a day. Each time they are smoked, the dates on top are flipped to the bottom, then left to rest briefly before smoking again. This process...
Weihui Duji Beef is a specialty of Weihui City, Xinxiang, Henan Province. It is made from one- to three-year-old yellow cattle from northern Henan, using dozens of precious Chinese herbal medicines as seasonings. With its appealing appearance, consistent color and texture, tender meat, fragrant taste, and flavor that penetrates the bone marrow, it retains the traditional flavor of beef stewing while also offering a unique and pure...
Yangji Braised Chicken on Xiajie Street is a specialty of Weihui City, Xinxiang, Henan Province. Prepared using a traditional cooking method, it retains its classic flavor, featuring tender and soft meat, crumbly and juicy bones, golden-yellow skin, and a well-seasoned taste throughout — truly authentic in flavor. Weihui’s Xiajie braised chicken is best represented by Yangji, which has been sold for the longest time in Weihui City...
Raspberries are small berries of the Rosaceae family, known for their unique flavor, and come in three varieties: red, black, and golden. In traditional Chinese herbal medicine such as the Compendium of Materia Medica and various pharmacopoeias, raspberries are referred to as "覆盆子" (Fupenzi). They are rich in eighteen amino acids and various nutrients (including SOD, ellagic acid, anthocyanins, salicylic acid, raspberry ketone, and vitamin C). Ranked first among fruits...
YanDa Willow Weaving refers to handcrafted products made by YanDa Arts & Crafts Co., Ltd. using naturally grown willow branches abundant in the old course of the Yellow River in Yanjin. The items are created using traditional willow weaving techniques, including flat weaving, patterned weaving, tight binding, block weaving, and edge wrapping. The company’s main product lines include flower baskets, fruit baskets, office decoration sets, and shopping baskets. Its products are exported to more than ten countries, including the United States, Japan, France, and Canada, and are highly favored by customers both at home and abroad.
The history of persimmon vinegar brewing in Hui County dates back to the Warring States period around 270 BC. Legend has it that Lin Xiangru, a famous statesman of the Zhao Kingdom, taught local people how to graft wild persimmon trees and improve their varieties while he was studying in his youth, and also showed them how to brew persimmon vinegar. Today, the mountain stronghold where Lin Xiangru studied and the tomb where he was buried still remain, and the story of him teaching the locals to plant trees and brew vinegar continues to be told...
Xinxiang Wheat is a specialty of Xinxiang, Henan Province. Located in the Central Plains, Xinxiang enjoys favorable geographical conditions, political stability, social harmony, and a thriving agricultural sector. With an annual grain planting area of 11 million mu, it is one of China’s major regions for high-quality agricultural products and a core grain production zone. It is recognized as a national commodity grain base, a top-quality wheat production city, and a breeding base for high-quality specialized wheat seeds...
Huixian Fragrant Rice is a specialty of Huixian City, Xinxiang, Henan Province. The rice grains are short and oval in shape, milky white in color, with a strong fragrance and sticky texture. Huixian Fragrant Rice is one of China’s renowned premium rice varieties, classified as an aromatic glutinous subtype of the japonica rice species. It has a long history of cultivation in the spring-fed irrigation rice fields around the Taihang Mountains in northern Henan. Villages near Baiquan River…
The cultivation of hawthorn in Huixian City began during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, making it one of the top five major production areas in China. Located at the border between Henan and Shanxi provinces, Huixian lies against the Taihang Mountains to the north and faces the Yellow River to the south. As autumn deepens each year, the trees in the mountainous regions of the northwest start to shed their leaves, but the hillsides are covered with clusters of bright red hawthorn fruits. These not only bring the joy of harvest to the mountains…
Xinxiang Glutinous Rice of Huixian traces its origins to Huixian Fragrant Rice. Legend has it that long ago, a flock of golden wild geese was flying south when one injured bird descended and landed in Huixian. A kind local farmer rescued it, carefully treated and raised it. After recovering, the goose returned to the sky. The following spring, it came back and brought the farmer a single golden rice seed as a token of gratitude. The farmer planted the seed, which grew into...