Qiuji Sesame Cake is a specialty of Qiuji Township, Luyi City, Zhoukou, Henan Province. Made from premium wheat flour, Qiuji Sesame Cake is crispy, fragrant, delicious, and nutritious—suitable for all ages with its unique flavor, and can be called a “culinary gem of eastern Henan”! Qiuji Township is located 25 kilometers west of Luyi County, the hometown of Laozi. It lies south of National Highway 311, with Provincial Highway 210 and the Dancheng–Zhecheng Road passing through it. The Yongdeng Expressway also has an entrance within the township. To the north, it borders the renowned Zhongzhou town of Xuanwu; to the southwest, it neighbors Shiliang Town; and to the east, it adjoins Zhao Village Township.
Xiji Twist is a specialty of Xiji Town, Luyi City, Zhoukou, Henan Province. Made entirely with sesame oil, Luyi Xiji Twist has an orange-red hue, a crystal-clear appearance, and a crispy yet non-greasy texture that is refreshing and suitable for all ages. Originating in the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty, it was first created by Zhang Zhibin and has a history of over 500 years. Produced in...
Luyi Mother’s Porridge is a specialty snack from Luyi City, Zhoukou, Henan Province. It is made by soaking and swelling locally grown soybeans and millet, grinding them into a paste, and then extracting the juice to cook into porridge. The porridge is as white as milk, smooth and residue-free, silky like fat, sweet and refreshing—comparable to milk, hence the name “mama” (commonly referring to breast milk) porridge. Luyi Mother’s Porridge is unique in China and is a regional...
The dog meat from ShiLiangji in Luyi, Henan, is one of the famous local delicacies in eastern Henan, renowned nationwide for its tender texture and delicious taste. The dog meat from ShiLiangji is prepared using traditional methods, seasoned with a variety of spices and a small amount of saltpeter. After removing impurities, it is slowly simmered over low heat. The cooked dog meat boasts a vibrant color and a rich, enticing aroma. It is said that the fragrance of dog meat ranks among the top of all meat dishes…
The three-chili pepper is a new variety introduced from Japan. It is characterized by dense plant growth and abundant fruit, with a cherry-like color, small but spicy pods, richly aromatic and delicious taste, and digestive and stomach-soothing benefits. …
Gaoji Sesame Seed Cake is made from premium wheat flour, resulting in a crispy, fragrant, and delicious taste. It is rich in nutrition, suitable for all ages, and boasts a unique flavor — truly a “culinary gem of eastern Henan”!…
Guantang Sesame Slices are one of the specialties of Luyi, with a history of over a hundred years. Known for their thin slices, crispiness, sweetness, and refreshing taste, they have become a renowned product. …
Lu Yi straw hats are a traditional specialty of Lu Yi County in Henan Province. Legend has it that they were first woven by Dong Yueying, the daughter of a palace guard named Dong during the Southern Tang Dynasty. Over time, the craft was continuously improved by local artisans, allowing this handmade product to be passed down through generations. According to the painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival,” straw hats were already quite common during the Northern Song Dynasty. The “Lu Yi County Annals” from the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty also contain detailed records about them. Straw hat braids, also known as “wheat straw braids,” are handcrafted by farmers; the hats themselves are woven from these braids. Lu Yi straw hats come in two colors: yellow and white. The locals summarize their advantages and functions as follows: the straw is soft, and the hats are beautifully shaped; they are called “living straw” because they do not break or bend easily; they are durable and portable; they provide shade and shelter from rain, and can even double as fans; when sitting on the ground, they can serve as cushions. For these reasons, they have been widely favored by both domestic and international merchants and users. Before the mid-Qing Dynasty, braiding and weaving straw hats were activities done either for personal use or as gifts for relatives and friends. It was customary for a newlywed woman to bring several straw hats from her parents’ home to her husband’s family during her first summer after marriage—these were called “return-gift hats.” This tradition has been preserved to this day. As social demand increased, straw hat production gradually shifted toward commercialization, giving rise to specialized merchants such as braid shops and straw hat stores. Farmers relied on braiding and hat-making to get through many years of famine, and it remains an important secondary livelihood. A folk rhyme goes: “Wheat straw is a treasure, farmers can’t do without it; braid a strand, weave a hat, and you’ll have money for oil and salt; in famine years, it helps buy grain, in good years, it buys clothes.”
Small White Wax Twig refers to the plant *Ligustrum quihoui Carr.* of the genus *Ligustrum* in the family Oleaceae. Its root bark, leaves, and fruits are used medicinally. Root bark can be harvested year-round, leaves are collected in summer and autumn, and fruits are gathered in autumn and winter. They can be used fresh or dried in the sun. …
Baiji Mo, also known as Mo Jia Rou (meat-stuffed flatbread), is hailed as China’s burger king. Baiji Mo with meat filling can now be found all over the country.…
Xiangcheng white sesame features pure color, thin hulls, large and plump seeds, a richly aromatic taste, and high nutritional value. It has a high oil extraction rate. With excellent quality and a high commercialization rate, it is processed into refined sesame oil and washed sesame, among other products, which are exported abroad and highly popular. Xiangcheng City is located on the eastern plain of Henan Province, in the heart of the main sesame-producing area between the Yellow and Huaihe River regions. It has a...
Stir-fried Spiral Eel is made with carefully selected ingredients and crafted with precision. The eels must be wild-caught yellow eels with a dark brown color, and red chili peppers are preferred. The cooking process involves soaking, blanching, deep-frying, and stir-frying. …
Dengcheng Braised Pig's Trotters. These were already well-known in the Dengcheng area during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and now have a wide influence. The farthest sales point is in Xi'an, with over 20 locations nationwide. Features: rich red color, delicious taste, fragrant but not overpowering, oily but not greasy, with certain health benefits. (Zhoukou)…
Ruyang Liu Writing Brushes. Produced in Ruyangliu Village, Xiangcheng, these brushes have over 2,000 years of craftsmanship history. They feature sharp, aligned, full, and round tips, a balance of firmness and flexibility, an upright and powerful stroke, smooth handling, fluid writing that follows the writer’s intent, and exceptional durability. There are now over 100 varieties, including the Xi Zhi Miao Bi (Xi Zhi’s Marvelous Brush), Jing Ying Lang Wei (Exquisite Tip Wolf Hair), Feng Hua Lang Wei (Bee Flower Wolf Hair), and Shu Hua...
Sun Dian Hot Tofu is a specialty of Sun Dian Town, Xiangcheng City, Zhoukou, Henan Province. Also known as "Big Hoop Tofu," it gets its name from being pressed using a hoop mold. It is characterized by its tender, refreshing texture and chewy, delicious taste. Locals in Sun Dian often say, “A day without hot tofu makes the whole body uncomfortable,” while visitors exclaim, “Once you’ve tried Sun Dian Hot Tofu, you’ll want to stay forever…”
Panzhuang Village in Xiangcheng City is an administrative village with a population of over 1,000 people, where the per capita arable land is less than one mu. However, Panzhuang is a well-known base for the cultivation of high-quality crop seeds in Zhoukou, with an annual output value exceeding tens of millions of yuan. Among them, virus-free sweet potatoes are famous nationwide. In recent years, the village has collaborated with agricultural and scientific departments to research and trial the cultivation of high-quality crop seeds, among which virus-free sweet potatoes have been the most successful...
Amorpha fruticosa is a deciduous shrub belonging to the genus Amorpha in the legume family. It grows 1–4 meters tall, forming dense clumps with lush branches and leaves that grow upright. Its bark is dark gray, smooth, and the twigs are grayish-brown with raised rust-colored lenticels. When young, the twigs are densely covered with soft hairs. The lateral buds are very small and often occur in pairs, stacked on top of each other. …
Wang Family’s Five-Spice Lamb Head is a specialty dish from Huaiyang County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province. The meat is tender, smooth, refreshing, and brightly colored, with an enticing aroma when eaten. It is finely cooked, free of any off-flavors, rich yet not greasy or fishy, and offers therapeutic benefits such as warming the middle body, dispelling cold, strengthening the spleen, stimulating appetite, and nourishing the body. Wang Family’s Five-Spice Lamb Head was created by Mr. Wang Qinyi, a Hui Muslim...
Fengtang Geng's Smoked Chicken is a specialty dish from Fengtang Township, Huaiyang County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province. It features a golden color, crispy skin with tender and juicy meat, falling-off-the-bone texture, rich yet not greasy, with a well-balanced savory flavor. It boasts a mild cured meat aroma and offers spleen-strengthening health benefits. Fengtang Geng's Smoked Chicken has a long history, originating in the Qing Dynasty when it was introduced from the imperial court to the public. The preparation of the smoked chicken…
Pickled Cattail Shoots is a condiment food product exclusively produced by the Huaiyang County Pickle Factory. The cattail is a perennial aquatic plant that grows in marshy areas. Its leaves are flat and blade-like, 1–1.5 cm wide and 2–3 meters tall, emerging above the water surface with a bluish-green color, suitable for making various woven products. The rootstalk grows underwater or deep in the mud, with a diameter of 2–4 cm. …