The Lu's holly pyrographed chopsticks, made from the evergreen holly that grows on cliffs, are of superior quality and exquisite craftsmanship. These traditional, well-known handicrafts from Lu's are crafted from this fine material. The wood is hard, fine-grained, cool in nature, and pure white in color. After being soaked in scented oil, it takes on a yellowish tint resembling ivory or bone, with a delicate fragrance...
Chinese juniper, also known as flat juniper, fragrant juniper, or commonly referred to as cypress, belongs to the family Cupressaceae. It is an evergreen tree of the genus Platycladus. This species is highly adaptable, cold-resistant and drought-tolerant, but not waterlogged. It grows slowly but has a long lifespan. Its wood is hard, aromatic, and resistant to decay, making it an excellent material for building houses, crafting items, and especially for traditional civilian coffins. The tree has a beautiful shape and...
The tung tree, also known as the yingzi tung or commonly referred to as the tung oil tree, is a deciduous tree and one of the economic forest species. It has oval-shaped leaves, large white flowers with yellowish-red spots and stripes, and green, nearly spherical fruits with pointed tips. The wood is light and soft, suitable for making bedboards, box panels, and more. The oil extracted from its seeds is called tung oil, an important industrial material and also a…
Golden Silk Catalpa is a deciduous tree and a precious species among catalpas, serving as one of the main native tree species in Lushi. The catalpa grows rapidly, has excellent timber quality, low shrinkage, does not warp or crack, is water-resistant and rot-resistant, and is not easily infested by insects. Its wood grain is straight, easy to process, with smooth and glossy cut surfaces, and offers good paint adhesion and glue bonding. It is an ideal material for making furniture,…
Dendrobium nobile, a species of orchid and a precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is commonly known as "Golden Hairpin" among locals in Lushi County. It has a sweet and mild taste with a cool nature, and is known to nourish yin and benefit the stomach, clear heat, promote fluid production, and relieve thirst. It is primarily used to treat post-illness weakness, reduced gastric acid, poor appetite, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, as well as symptoms such as tidal fever due to tuberculosis. The Lushi Golden Hairpin is of the fine-leaf variety (i.e.,…
The monkey head mushroom is a precious edible fungus, named for its resemblance to a monkey’s head in shape, as well as the shape and color of the fuzz on its surface. It typically grows as a parasite on dead stumps or dead parts of living trees such as Quercus acutissima, Quercus variabilis, and Cyclobalanopsis glauca during July and August. Lushi County boasts abundant oak tree resources, making it an ideal environment for the growth and proliferation of monkey head mushrooms. …
Sanmenxia, located on the western edge of Henan Province and bordering Shanxi and Shaanxi, was historically known as Shanzhou. In the early Western Zhou Dynasty, the Ji-clan fiefdom "Guo State" once established its capital here, hence it is also called "Guo Prefecture." Whether tucked away in urban alleys or nestled in rural mountain areas, Guo State Lamb Soup restaurants open their doors early to greet travelers covered in the dust of dawn. On the kitchen chopping board, lamb, lamb kidneys...
Qingquangou Millet is a specialty of Qingquangou Village, Zhangmao Township, Shanxian County, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province. When steamed, Qingquangou Millet boasts a fragrant aroma, and when used in soups, it offers a refreshing taste with an unforgettable aftertaste. Qingquangou Millet is produced in Qingquangou Village, Zhangmao Township, Shanxian County, Sanmenxia City, Henan. The millet produced here is bright golden-yellow, with a pure fragrance, rich viscosity, and high nutritional value—excellent whether steamed or boiled. In the late Qing Dynasty, Empress Dowager Cixi...
Erxianpo apples are a specialty of Daying Town, Shanxian County, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province. These apples are known for their premium quality, vibrant color, health and beauty benefits, and being green and pollution-free. Varieties include SOD apples and selenium-enriched apples. The product is registered under the "Erxianpo" brand with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. Erxianpo in Shanxian County is located in the southern mountainous area of Daying Town, Shanxian County, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province...
Daying Mahua from Sanmenxia originates in Daying Village, Shanxian County. Legend has it that long ago, the Daying area was overrun with venomous snakes. To curse them, every household would pull well-kneaded dough into long strips on the second day of the second lunar month, twist them into the shape of snake tails, fry them, and eat them—this was called “biting the scorpion’s tail.” Over time, this “scorpion tail” evolved into what we now know as…
Made by processing chicken eggs with yellow wine lees. The ingredients are strictly selected and the craftsmanship is meticulous. The finished egg has a reddish-yellow, delicate paste-like yolk center without any hard core, offering a unique flavor that combines the aroma of egg, fat, and wine.…
Guanyintang Beef is produced in Guanyintang, Shanzhou District. It uses strictly selected ingredients and a unique production method: freshly slaughtered beef is first placed in a vat filled with clean water, then salt and saltpeter are added to cure it. The curing time varies by season—generally one month in winter, three to four days in summer, and seven to eight days in spring and autumn—until the meat turns uniformly red inside and out...
These fried dough twists are over a foot long, with a bright persimmon-red hue, distinct edges, and a sweet, delicious taste that is crispy and golden yet remains soft even when stored for long periods. They are a flavorful snack suitable for all ages. Sanmenxia Fried Dough Twists originated from the Daying Fried Dough Twists of Shanzhou District. Legend has it that long ago, the Daying area was overrun with venomous scorpions. To curse them, every year on the second day of the second lunar month, households would...
Flour beans are a unique traditional snack from western Henan. Made using manual craftsmanship, refined wheat flour is kneaded, fermented, rolled into strips, cut into soybean-sized pieces, and then baked using white clay as a medium. With their crispy, fragrant taste, long shelf life, and stomach-nourishing, appetite-stimulating properties, they have become a distinctive snack for travelers and festive occasions in western Henan...
Black fungus is a saprophytic fungus plant with extremely rich nutrition. According to the <Book of Rites·Inner Rules>, annotations by Han scholar Zheng Xuan, and the <Collected Explanations of the Book of Rites> by Chen Hao of the Song Dynasty, all confirm that black fungus was a delicacy exclusively enjoyed by ancient emperors. Black fungus has a delicious taste and is favored by both urban and rural people…
Lingbao boasts relatively abundant traditional Chinese medicinal resources, with over 1,000 types of medicinal herbs in total. These include more than 860 plant-based herbs, over 120 animal-derived herbs, 10 mineral-based herbs, and 7 other types of medicinal substances. The main varieties produced in large quantities are 16 types such as Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen), Forsythia suspensa (Lianqiao), Atractylodes lancea (Cangzhu), Ziziphus jujuba seed (Suanzaoren), Dioscorea nipponica (Chuanshanlong), and Scutellaria baicalensis (Huangqin). The city's annual production of Chuanshanlong reaches 438,000 kilograms, Cangzhu 229,000 kilograms, Danshen 24,000 kilograms, Suanzaoren seed 168,000 kilograms, and Lianqiao 136,500 kilograms. Under normal circumstances, the city procures over 500,000 kilograms of medicinal herbs annually.
Stone bread, also known as stone-roasted flatbread, gets its name from being baked on a heated griddle lined with river pebbles. With a long history and unique preparation method, it is a distinctive local delicacy of Lingbao. The main ingredients include: flour, lard, vegetable oil, salt, star anise, Sichuan peppercorn, scallions, and more. The stone bread has a golden, crispy appearance...
Lard Fat Sesame Cake, also known as Lard Fat Cake, is a famous local delicacy in Lingbao. It is flat and round in shape, with overlapping spiral patterns, and has a golden, shiny appearance. When bitten into, its layers are distinct—each as thin as paper—with a crispy exterior and soft interior, exuding a rich aroma. The making of Lard Fat Sesame Cake is an intricate craft, with main ingredients including wheat flour, pork back fat, refined cottonseed oil, salt, and baking soda. There are two ways to enjoy it…
Zeng Gao is a local specialty snack from Lingbao. It is said to have been introduced from Shaanxi several hundred years ago. A "zeng" is a type of steamer with small holes at the bottom, which is why Zeng Gao is also called "Jing Gao." The best quality is achieved when steamed in an earthenware zeng. The main ingredients are glutinous rice (traditionally Wuxi glutinous rice) and jujubes (with Lingbao Mao Tou jujubes being the best). The typical ratio is 10 kilograms of glutinous rice per batch, 3 kilograms of jujubes…
Jueshan Scallions, also known as "whip-handle scallions," are produced in the area around Jueshan Village, Yinzhuang Town, Lingbao. They have long, thick stems, typically measuring over 26 centimeters in length, with some reaching up to 40 centimeters. The white part of the scallion is fine-textured, with a strong aromatic flavor and a taste that is spicy yet slightly sweet. Jueshan Scallions are not only a delicious seasoning but can also be used medicinally, proving more effective than...