The Guan (Jingde) family’s Duozi Lamb from Ningling County is one of the region’s four most famous local dishes, with origins dating back to the Ming Dynasty—over 600 years ago. Legend has it that this delicacy was once a favorite of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The preparation involves boiling meticulously cleaned lamb along with over ten different seasonings, wrapping it in cloth, and pressing it under wooden boards…
Ningling Cicadas are a specialty of Ningling County in Shangqiu City, Henan Province. When deep-fried, they have a delicious taste and high medicinal dietary value, making them very popular in places like Shandong and Henan. Also known as "Cicada Larvae" or "Golden Cicadas," their adult form is the familiar cicada. From the end of June to mid-August each year, when the ground temperature reaches over 20 degrees Celsius...
Shiqiao Town is located in the central-northern part of Ningling County, Shangqiu City, Henan Province, covering a total area of 66.6 square kilometers. The town administers 23 administrative villages, 101 natural villages, and has a population of 51,006. In recent years, Shiqiao Town in Ningling County has focused on the strategic goal of building a “China’s High-Quality Crisp Pear Hometown.” The area under crisp pear cultivation in Shiqiao Town has expanded from the original 23,000...
Ham is one of the cured meat products, made from fresh pork hind legs. It features fine skin and tender meat, with bright red and white hues, is not greasy when eaten, and boasts a unique flavor and aroma. Xu Family Ham is a renowned local delicacy from Nanguan in Ningling County, with a history of over 300 years. Generations of locals — without exception — have loved Xu Family Ham. During the early Qing Dynasty…
In eastern Henan, people love to drink “paste” for breakfast. This “paste” is a local term; outsiders might call it porridge or congee. Porridge and congee are also sold in towns and cities in this region, but they differ from the “paste.” The mung bean paste sold in the market is not the same as the various types of paste commonly consumed at home. The mung bean paste sold here is not simply made by boiling raw mung beans in a pot, but requires specialized and exquisite skills to prepare. Otherwise, the pot will end up tasting burnt. When prepared by a highly skilled chef, however, the mung bean paste takes on a uniquely delicious flavor.
Ningling white wax wood is pure white like jade, tough yet not hard, flexible yet not brittle. Its shaft can bend up to 180 degrees without splitting, demonstrating exceptional flexibility. With a high fiber density and strong natural tensile strength, it does not crack in dry conditions or deform in humid environments. Its elasticity and toughness are unmatched by other types of wood, making it an ideal natural material for crafting martial arts...
The clear waters of Chenghe River embrace a small ancient town, which was originally known by its oldest name, “Yu State.” In later dynasties, it was renamed Yucheng. By 1953 in the last century, the counties of Gu and Yu were merged, and the new county seat of Yucheng was established in Mamuji. The original Yucheng was then renamed Limin Town. Now Li...
Shortly after ascending the throne during the Song Dynasty, Emperor Zhenzong embarked on an eastern tour. One day, as he arrived at Taiqing Palace in Zhecheng, the sun had already set, so he ordered the imperial entourage to make camp there. Before the meal, he instructed his attendants, “See if there’s any local delicacy we can have for me to try.” The attendants agreed. Before they could even ask around, they were suddenly greeted by…
Slick Lamb Skin is a specialty of Shangqiu, renowned both domestically and internationally for its exquisite craftsmanship and beautiful patterns. Each year, besides exporting 100,000 raw hides to international markets, it is also processed into various garments, hats, blankets, and mattresses for overseas sales. Slick Lamb Skin is made from the hides of young goats. Due to factors such as the production climate and goat breeds, Slick Lamb Skin…
Shangqiu hand embroidery includes styles such as needlepoint, colored embroidery, flat embroidery, drawn thread embroidery, and Diao Ping embroidery. Since ancient times, the people of Shangqiu have had the tradition of planting mulberry trees, raising silkworms, weaving fabric, and embroidering. As the area was historically known as the State of Song, Songzhou, or Songcheng, Shangqiu hand embroidery is also called “Song Embroidery.” During the Northern Song Dynasty, Song Embroidery was all the rage in Bianliang. The drawn thread and embroidered products feature delicate craftsmanship, exquisite techniques,...
The Shangqiu Water-Soaked Steamed Buns are said to have originated in the Ming Dynasty. The preparation method involves cutting hard steamed buns into inch-long, finger-thick pieces. After drying, these pieces are soaked in water heated to around 40 degrees Celsius, then deep-fried in boiling oil until golden brown. They are then removed and dipped in a sugar syrup. The finished product is brightly colored, sweet, and delicious. Because the sugar syrup contains water, the buns are...
Sha (sha) Soup is primarily made from tender lamb, beef, and shredded chicken, along with barley kernels and a variety of seasonings. The preparation method: the night before, clean a whole chicken and pieces of beef or lamb, place them in a steamer (a wooden barrel placed over a pot), and simmer over low heat until cooked. The next morning, bring the cooked broth to a boil, thicken it with starch, and when serving, add small-ground sesame oil, hu…
Shrimp Braised Vegetarian Dish is a famous dish from the ancient city of Guide in Shangqiu during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The preparation method involves deep-frying gluten in warm oil until thoroughly cooked, then tearing it into chunks. Shrimp roe, mushrooms, white fungus, and chicken or duck broth are added, and the mixture is simmered over low heat until the sauce is rich and reduced. This dish excels in aroma, flavor, and presentation, embodying the strong flavors of eastern Henan cuisine—bold colors, intense fragrance, thick broth, and…
The Yin-Yang Swirling Perfume Pot is a magical ancient Chinese wine vessel widely known in history, capable of pouring two different types of wine from the same pot. There are no historical records regarding which dynasty it originated from or who invented it, but it has been regarded as a “rare treasure” throughout the ages. Legend has it that the Yin-Yang Swirling Perfume Pot first appeared during the Han Dynasty. After Emperor Hui of Han passed away, his son Liu Gong was made…
Fanjia Chaozi Soup originated in the early years of the Republic of China and is a traditional recipe passed down through generations of the Fan family on East Street in Ningling County. The main ingredient of Chaozi Soup is millet. The millet is ground into a paste and then cooked with fresh chicken broth, sheep fat, cellophane noodles, along with fennel, ginger, Sichuan peppercorns, monosodium glutamate, salt, and other seasonings. When served, the soup is poured over specially prepared beef flavoring and...
Yucheng County is located on the edge of the northern subtropical zone, featuring a climate that transitions between northern and southern characteristics. Most of its terrain consists of low mountains and hills. These unique natural conditions have resulted in Xinyang redflower cowpea seeds with high purity, strong stress resistance, plump grains, and suitability for widespread promotion. It is a national production base for redflower cowpea green manure seeds, with exports to Japan, South Korea, …
This product is made through more than ten meticulous processes using chicken broth for cooking. It has a dark reddish color, a rich five-spice flavor, salty without being astringent, sweet without being greasy, and aromatic without being overpowering. In the late Qing Dynasty, it was once presented as a tribute to the imperial court. The emperor was so pleased with its taste that he bestowed a wooden seal inscribed “Jiazhai Dried Tofu.” With this seal stamped on, the product could be exempted from inspection and directly supplied to the imperial kitchen (Shangqiu)…
Porcelain carving art is a fine craft that uses a knife as a brush to etch various patterns such as animals, landscapes, figures, flowers, calligraphy, and seal engravings onto porcelain. It is a precious historical and cultural heritage of China. The art of porcelain carving originated in the early Qing Dynasty, boasting a history of over 300 years, but was lost due to wars and turmoil. Shenshide and others from the Yucheng County Woodworking Factory...
Yucheng Red Pomegranate 86-3 is an excellent variety naturally regenerated and asexually propagated in Yucheng County. It is sporadically distributed across the county and can also be cultivated in rural household courtyards, bearing fruit within three years. The pomegranates bloom in June of the lunar calendar and ripen in August. When ripe, they turn a golden-red hue, strikingly vibrant, with deep purple-red seeds that are crystal clear and resemble agate. The skin is thin, the juice abundant…
Xiaoqiaojidian Village in Zhangji Township, Yucheng County, is widely renowned for growing lotus root and is often referred to as the "Hometown of Lotus Root," with the best quality coming from Heilongtan Pond in the village. Qiaojidian lotus root has over 300 years of cultivation history. During the Ming Dynasty, it was frequently presented as tribute to the imperial court and designated as an imperial delicacy. It has long been praised with the saying, “Huilou yam, Dangshan pear, Qiaojidian lotus root fragrant for miles.” This lotus root is characterized by...