The Nini Gou are a general term for clay toys at the Renzu Fair held at the Taihao Mausoleum in Huaiyang. They are a unique form of folk art born from primitive totem culture, also known as Linggou (Tomb Dogs) or Ling Dog. Their themes are extremely diverse, featuring all kinds of creatures from the sky, such as birds, and the earth, such as beasts, with fantastical and mysterious designs. Among the myriad bizarre shapes are the nine-headed bird, …
Stewed Cattail Shoots is a unique and renowned dish from Huaiyang, listed as one of Henan Province’s local specialty dishes. It is made from the tender shoots at the base of cattails, a specialty product from the city’s lake, and cooked with seasonings. Stewed Cattail Shoots can be prepared on its own or combined with meat, fish, or eggs. Varieties include Shrimp Stewed Cattail Shoots, Egg Yolk Stewed Cattail Shoots, and Fish Fillet Stewed Cattail Shoots. …
The way to make Huaiyang wontons is: use clear chicken broth, add meat-filled dough wrappers, then pour in boiled ingredients such as shredded chicken, dried shrimp, pickled mustard tuber, seaweed, cellophane noodles, kelp, small blanched meatballs, and shredded egg crepe. Then add an appropriate amount of small-ground sesame oil, MSG, mature vinegar, cooking wine, soy sauce, spices, and other seasonings. Depending on the season, you can also add fresh vegetables such as cattail shoots and daylilies, …
Zhu Mazi’s Stewed Meat Spicy Soup is known for its perfectly balanced consistency, moderate saltiness and sweetness, meat so tender it melts in your mouth, a tangy and spicy flavor, and an aroma that fills the air. There’s a saying: “Drink spicy soup in the morning, and the fragrance lingers even after your evening burp.” Both visitors from out of town and fellow Cantonese, Macanese, and Taiwanese compatriots from Huaiyang who return home for family visits take great pride in being able to enjoy a bowl of Zhu Mazi’s Spicy Soup. …
The Huai Mountain Goat is a renowned local premium breed, named after its origin in the Huaidian area, where Huaidian serves as the distribution hub. It has a medium build, short and dense fur, matures early, reproduces quickly, is an efficient forager, tolerant of coarse feed, prefers dry conditions over dampness, is adept at climbing, enjoys butting, and is easy to raise and feed. The Huai Mountain Goat is lean with little fat, not greasy or overly rich, with minimal gamey flavor, …
Daylilies, belonging to the Liliaceae family, are perennial herbaceous plants, also known as golden needle flowers, yellow flowers, seven-star flowers, or calming flowers. They are mainly distributed in the eastern part of Northeast China, thriving on dry hillsides, wastelands, dry meadows, and field or roadside edges. Known for their reputation as "flowers to admire, vegetables to eat, and herbs to use," their carotene content is no less than…
Huaiyang Taihao Mausoleum Clay Figurines (Nini Gou), a traditional craft passed down through generations with a long history, are a unique commodity at the ancient fairs held at Taihao Mausoleum. These include birds, beasts, toys, and more, all collectively referred to as Nini Gou. They draw on a wide range of materials, feature beautiful shapes, are exquisitely designed yet unpretentious, and embody a simple, rustic charm. Not only are they crafted with exceptional skill, but they also carry an antique appeal. Their coloring is entirely...
Huaiyang, anciently known as Chenzhou, is the site where Fuxi, the first of the legendary "Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors" in Chinese history, established his capital. To the north of Huaiyang lies the "Taihao Mausoleum," commonly called the "Temple of the Human Ancestors." "Taihao" describes Fuxi as radiant as the sun and moon, praising his saintly virtue at the dawn of human existence—when people still ate raw meat and drank blood—by teaching them to "make nets for hunting and fishing to sustain the people; raise six kinds of livestock to supply the kitchen" (from *Essentials of Historical Outline: The Chapter on Taihao Fuxi*).
Yongcheng chili peppers are produced in Yongcheng, Henan Province. Known simply as “Yong Jiao” (Yong chilies), the traditional main varieties grown here include: large horn chilies, small horn chilies, large linear chilies, small linear chilies, copper-skin chilies, large vegetable chilies, and improved varieties. They are characterized by their long, plump, purplish-red bodies, thick flesh, rich oil content, fragrant spiciness, and delicious, appetite-stimulating taste. Scientific analysis shows…
Huaiyang Sauce Cattail Shoots are a specialty of Huaiyang County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province. Sauce Cattail Shoots is a condiment food exclusively produced by the Huaiyang County Pickle Factory. The rootstalk of the cattail is peeled to reveal a silvery appearance. When eaten raw, it is crisp, sweet, and stringless, with a delicious taste; when cooked, it remains crisp even after long boiling, offering a tender and fragrant flavor; when pickled in sauce, it has a uniquely distinctive taste that is even more special. Huaiyang Sauce Cattail Shoots were honored in 1984...
Huaiyang Huai Goat is a specialty of Huaiyang County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province. The Huai Goat is sturdy in build, well-proportioned in structure, and has fine, even hair that is mostly pure white. Its meat is tender, with minimal gaminess, making it highly suitable for cooking and a favorite among consumers. The Huai Goat’s skin is of excellent quality and enjoys a prestigious reputation on the international market, where it is known as “Hankou Road Huai Leather.” Huaiyang is one of the central production areas…
Dragon Lake Carp is a specialty of Dragon Lake in Huaiyang County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province. Residents of Huaiyang have taken advantage of the favorable conditions of Dragon Lake to vigorously develop the fishing industry, with around 100,000 kilograms of fresh fish being marketed each year. Huaiyang Dragon Lake is located in the heart of the Huang-Huai Plain, stretching 4.4 kilometers from east to west, 2.5 kilometers from north to south, with a perimeter embankment of 14 kilometers, covering an area of 11 square...
Ran Family Five-Spice Fermented Fish is a traditional recipe passed down through generations by Ran Xiandong from the old town of Xiayi County, with a history of over 200 years. It is said to have been listed as a tribute during the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong era. The five-spice fermented fish uses plump and tender crucian carp weighing around 200 grams, a specialty of Xiayi City Lake, as its main ingredient. The whole fish is not descaled, but gutted after being split open, then goes through marination, deep-frying, and is simmered with a variety of seasonings...
Sha Tang is considered one of the most distinctive and famous soups among Henan’s local delicacies. It is primarily made with fatty beef and mutton, as well as hen meat, and is simmered with barley kernels, spices, scallions, ginger, chili peppers, pepper, monosodium glutamate, and salt. The cooking method involves: cleaning the plain chicken and beef or mutton the night before, draining the blood...
This soup is a famous traditional snack from Henan Province. It is made primarily with lamb, beef, and hen, along with sha mi (barley kernels), seasonings, scallions, ginger, chili peppers, and salt. These ingredients are simmered in a steamer for several hours, then left to rest and steam covered for a few more hours. After that, the mixture is brought to a boil again and seasoned with hot water, a starchy thickening sauce, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and pepper to finish. When served, it is ladled into bowls…
Xiayi cattails are a local specialty of the county, long renowned throughout history. They have been widely consumed since the Ming Dynasty's Jiajing era, boasting a history of over 800 years. The cattail plants grow densely in the county’s urban lake, thriving in black, silt-like mud. The tender heart leaves from the lower part of the plant are harvested as cattail shoots, also known as cattail bamboo shoots. The deeper the mud, the more and better the cattails grow. During their growth period, the water depth is maintained at over one meter, and the optimal harvesting time is around May and June each year. The cattail shoots are milky white in color, each about 0.6 to 1 meter in length, and about as thick as a thumb.
The Wanghe White Honey Peach from Xiayi County has a long cultivation history. Through centuries of careful nurturing by peach growers, it has become an excellent local variety. This peach is large in size, thin-skinned, thick-fleshed, juicy, small-seeded, with a jade-like white color and a honey-sweet taste, renowned far and wide. Generally weighing about 150 grams, with some as large as 350 grams, it has a sugar content of up to 12%, and contains...
Fermented Bean Curd Jerky has been renowned under the names "Zheyi Sanyuanzhai," "Yudong Wehe Sauce Garden," and "Zhecheng Sanxing Pickle Garden" throughout the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The specialty, Fermented Bean Curd Jerky (fermented tofu), is especially famous. In 1980, it was ranked second at the National Soy Products Quality Competition held in Wuhan; in 198…
Tobacco leaves are a major cash crop in Zhecheng. Growing tobacco is an effective way for farmers to escape poverty and achieve prosperity. It is also an important pillar of the county's fiscal revenue. Over the past few years, tobacco production has developed rapidly, with 60,000 mu planted annually and an annual output of over 10 million kilograms. The production process has achieved varietal optimization, regionalized cultivation, and scientific management. The produced tobacco...
is a type of celery, named after Huzhuang Village in Huxiang Township, Zhoucheng County. It has over 1,000 years of cultivation history, and the famous couplet “Happy are the homes visited by horse-drawn carriages; Huqin celery and tribute wine entertain honored guests” is widely circulated among the people.