Handicrafts woven from willow twigs mixed with cattail grass and rattan, featuring pure white colors and unique designs. Common products include fruit baskets, flower baskets, wall-mounted baskets, door curtains, and screens. Gushi County in Henan Province has a long history of willow weaving production and holds the nation’s only title of “Hometown of Chinese Willow Weaving,” which dates back over a hundred years. The craft began in the 1950s and 1960s...
Longcheng Pig Trotters are a specialty created by Yang Yaoshen after more than thirty years of dedicated research and continuous exploration, refined through countless adjustments to the recipe and braising techniques. With their unique formula, rich and authentic flavor, and appeal to all ages, these trotters have earned widespread praise from diners. They were honored as a “Famous Local Snack of Central Plains” by the organizing committee of the 3rd Central Plains Food Festival in Henan Province…
According to the Linying County Annals, Fancheng Hong Family Spiced Beef has a long history spanning several hundred years. It was already widely renowned during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty and served as imperial cuisine during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. Made from 1- to 3-year-old yellow cattle from the Central Plains, Hong Family Spiced Beef is produced using traditional craftsmanship and a scientific formula, blended with over thirty…
Lingying Nanjiecun Instant Noodles are a specialty of Nanjie Village, Chengguan Town, Lingying County, Luohe City, Henan Province. Also known as Beijing Instant Noodles, these were one of the best-selling instant noodle brands in the 1990s. Henan Nanjiecun Instant Noodle Co., Ltd., established in 1985 as a collective enterprise, currently owns three major brand series—“Nanjiecun,” “Nande,” and...
Luohe Partridge Chicken is an outstanding dual-purpose breed for meat and eggs in Henan Province, developed through over four years of hybrid selection and breeding using Guangdong Partridge Chicken and local indigenous chickens as parent stock. It is divided into two strains: Green (Iron)-footed Partridge and Yellow-footed Partridge. The hens mainly have brownish-partridge plumage, while the roosters predominantly feature red feathers with black tails. The Green (Iron)-footed strain has…
In recent years, Wanggang Town has leveraged its advantage in small pepper cultivation to grow and strengthen the small pepper industry. It has built a small pepper trading market covering an area of over 300 acres, which has driven the cultivation of small peppers across more than 300,000 acres in surrounding counties and townships. To further extend the small pepper industrial chain, following the development path of building industries around agriculture and boosting agriculture through robust industries...
Luoyang specialty Fancheng Beef: The renowned Hong Family Five-Spice Beef from Fancheng has enjoyed widespread fame across China for over 400 years. Fancheng Beef is meticulously crafted, using only 1–3 year old male yellow cattle from the Central Plains as the prime ingredient, supplemented with more than twenty kinds of precious Chinese medicinal herbs. It undergoes multiple processes such as curing and steaming. Fancheng Beef stays far…
Gushi Chicken is a premium local chicken breed in China, primarily produced in Gushi County, Henan Province, commonly known as "Gushi Yellow." It is renowned both domestically and internationally for its elegant appearance, tender meat, delicious broth, unique flavor, and rich nutrition. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was listed as a tribute to the imperial court. In the 1950s, it began to be exported to Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asia, and in the 1960s and 1970s…
The rivers in Shangcheng are rich in iron sand. During the Tianshun era of the Ming Dynasty (1457–1464), iron smelting techniques were introduced to Shangcheng from the Central Plains. Villagers from the southern mountains along the rivers panned for iron sand and used charcoal as fuel to smelt iron and cast pots. By the second year of the Xianfeng reign in the Qing Dynasty (1852), small-scale factory-style production had taken shape, and the industry saw rapid development after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. …
Granite and marble Cities such as Shangcheng, Xin County, Luoshan, and Gushi have abundant reserves of high-quality marble and granite mines with diverse varieties. The Shangcheng County marble mine features three types—green, white, and yellow—with a mining area spanning 10 square kilometers. The granite reserves are even more substantial, including a variety known as “Snowflake Nylon,” which has a gray-white base with black speckles and a hard, attractive texture. The reserves of just this one variety are sufficient for large-scale mining for up to 300 years. Xin County has 950 million cubic meters of granite reserves, with over 15 varieties, and its main products include more than 20 types of granite decorative slabs such as Suhua, General Red, Pigeon Blood, Maple Leaf Red, Forest Green, and Silver Flower. Luoshan’s Shandian Township has 530,000 cubic meters of marble reserves and 70 million cubic meters of granite reserves, with main products including over 30 varieties such as White Marble, Yunluo Red, and Emerald Red. (Xinyang)
Sanma: namely red hemp, ramie, and cannabis. The entire Xinyang region is located in the Huai River basin, with moderate temperatures, abundant rainfall, fertile soil, and long hours of sunlight, making it highly suitable for the cultivation, growth, and processing of “sanma.” Red hemp, also known as jute, is originally from India and Africa. It was introduced to Xinyang in 1964, and currently the total area under hemp cultivation in the region reaches millions of mu, with a total output of 200 million kilograms, making it one of the country’s important production bases for red hemp. The red hemp produced in Xinyang is of high quality, with tensile strength of around 50 kilograms, minimal blemishes, good color, moderate degumming, uniform fibers, and soft texture. It is sold to over 100 domestic manufacturers and is hailed as the “mainstay hemp” and primary raw material by some large and medium-sized hemp textile mills. It is also exported to the United States, Canada, Japan, and the former Soviet Union. Gushi, Xixian, and Huangchuan are the main red hemp-producing areas in the region. The ramie produced in Xinyang has long fibers, strong tensile strength, good elasticity, resistance to decay and mildew, and rapid absorption and release of moisture, making it an excellent textile material. Its by-products—hemp twine, roots, and leaves—are also widely used. The planting area in the region exceeds 200,000 mu. Cannabis, also known as “hemp,” is best produced in Jiangji Township, Gushi County. It has a high fiber content, strong toughness, bright color, low moisture regain, and good heat dissipation properties, hence it is referred to as “Jiang Hemp.” (Xinyang)
"Pig skin shreds" are a famous local specialty of Gushi County in Henan Province. They are made from clean pig skin through a series of processes including soaking, defatting, slicing, shredding, and drying. Pig skin was historically referred to as "fu" (肤), and commonly known as "skin hide." The use of pig skin shreds as an ingredient in dishes began in the late Ming Dynasty. Legend has it that they were first created by the owner of Mantangchun Restaurant at Liaochenggang (now part of Gushi County in Henan Province), an ancient town...
Mall Bamboo-Tube Fresh Fish Mall County Specialty Cuisine Research Association Mall Bamboo-Tube Fresh Fish is a renowned local dish of Mall County, long cherished by locals. In winter, fresh fish weighing over 1 kilogram are scaled, gutted, cleaned, and drained before being cut into chunks. These are mixed with an appropriate amount of salt, placed inside fresh bamboo tubes, sealed, and stored in a cool place. After about a month, they are taken out and boiled in a clear broth with seasonings…
Shangcheng County is located in the heart of the Dabie Mountains on the southeastern border of Henan Province, situated between the Yangtze and Huaihe river basins. It is known as a famous “Land of Medicinal Herbs.” The medicinal herb “bellflower root” produced in Shangcheng is renowned for its unique premium quality traits known as “dragon head, phoenix tail, and chrysanthemum heart,” and has been registered with a national geographical indication mark. The bellflower roots from Shangcheng are thick, fleshy, …
Poria cocos is a precious and rare traditional Chinese medicine, as well as a key ingredient in treating various diseases. Historically known as the "silver" of Chinese medicinal herbs, it offers exceptional health benefits such as anti-cancer, anti-aging, essence consolidation, and kidney protection. In the "Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica," poria cocos is classified as a top-grade herb and is one of the "Eight Treasures" of traditional Chinese medicine. Shangcheng poria cocos is mainly produced...
"De" Brand Starch Noodles, also known as soup noodles or slab noodles, are a special type of edible starch vermicelli. The history of starch noodle production in Shangcheng dates back a long time, with production already taking place during the Ming Dynasty. By the late Qing Dynasty, there were hundreds of producers in areas such as Tangquan Pool and Yuji. The pioneer of "De" Brand Starch Noodles was the Huang Guangshun family’s starch workshop in Tangquan Pool Village, Wuhe Township. In 1908, they began using peas...
Shangcheng County is located in the transitional zone between the northern subtropical and warm temperate regions, characterized by a mild climate, distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, concurrent rain and heat, a long frost-free period, and ample sunlight. It has a continental humid monsoon climate that combines the advantages of both southern and northern climates. The Guanhe River Basin runs from south to north across the entire county, passing through Gushi and Huaibin before joining the Huai River. The area along the banks of the Guanhe River is surrounded by…
A renowned local specialty dish from Shangcheng, long cherished by locals. In winter, fresh fish weighing over 2 jin (approximately 1 kg) are scaled, gutted, cleaned, and drained before being cut into chunks. The fish pieces are then mixed with an appropriate amount of salt and packed into freshly cut bamboo tubes, which are sealed and stored in a cool place. After more than a month, the fish is taken out and boiled in a clear broth with seasonings. The resulting dish features tender meat with a delicate bamboo aroma and a hint of fermented tofu flavor, making it truly unique...
Suxian Stone Duck Egg Dried Tofu is a traditional specialty of Shangcheng County. It was first created during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty (1821–1850) by Yi Jikui, a native of Suxian Stone in Shangcheng. Made from dried tofu as the base ingredient, the product is roasted over charcoal before being simmered in a uniquely formulated brine. The longer the brine is used, the richer its flavor becomes. The finished product has a light green hue...
Qingfeng Mist Tea is produced on the northwest slope of Qingfeng Ridge, located in the deep mountainous area of southern Duanji Township, Gushi County, at an altitude of over 900 meters. The region features overlapping mountains, fertile soil, suitable sunlight, moist air, and year-round mist—creating an ideal, pollution-free ecological environment for tea cultivation. Hence, the tea is named after the mountain ridge as “Qingfeng Mist…”