Donkey-hide gelatin gets its name from its origin in the former Dong’e County (now Dong’e Town, Pingyin County). It is made exclusively from black donkey hide and the area’s uniquely natural water source — the Langxi River. This traditional product has a history of two thousand years.
Overview: The red-scaled fish of Mount Tai, also known as stone-scaled fish, is a precious wild fish species. Its flesh is tender, rich in protein and fat, and has an exceptionally delicious taste. Legend has it that Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited Mount Tai many times and always ate this fish during his trips. As a result, it was ranked as the top dish of Mount Tai during the Qing Dynasty and became famous both in China and abroad. Red-scaled fish can be stewed, poached...
The reason this pancake is called "Clear Oil" is to distinguish it from lard; it is pan-fried using peanut oil. The term "Spiral" refers to the unique shape of the pancake. It is a refined type of noodle-based pastry developed from the technique of hand-pulled noodles. During preparation, the dough is stretched extremely thin—fine as silver threads, reaching over a thousand strands—which are then coiled into a round pancake shape and cooked in oil through a combination of frying and baking until done. Afterwards, the center is lifted to loosen the strands, which are then spread out on a plate and sprinkled with candied fruits and sugar. The spiral pancake features a crispy exterior, tender interior, evenly golden threads, a sweet taste, and a refreshing flavor, making it an excellent dessert for banquets.
"Zhangqiu Thin-shell Walnuts" are an open-pollinated population formed through long-term cultivation, continuous selection of superior trees, elimination of inferior ones, and natural selection. They belong to the late-bearing walnut group and are part of the thin-shell walnut variety category. In addition to being high-yielding and of excellent quality, they also have unique advantages such as smooth shell surfaces, extremely thin shells, degenerated inner septa, and easy kernel extraction...
The Longshan Culture is renowned both in China and abroad. Longshan Black Pottery is a cultural artifact from the late Neolithic Age in China, dating back approximately four to five thousand years. It was named after its first discovery in 1928 at the Chengziya site in Longshan Town, Zhangqiu, Shandong. The finest pieces of Longshan Black Pottery, such as eggshell-thin pottery, are “as black as lacquer, as shiny as a mirror, as thin as paper, and as hard as porcelain.” With their elegant designs, …
The Kongcun-brand Red Globe Grapes are a successfully introduced variety in Kongcun Town. The town is located on a piedmont plain, featuring a warm climate, moderate rainfall and snowfall, and abundant sunlight. After introduction, the grapes are cultivated and produced under standardized management, using bio-fertilizers and organic fertilizers. The ripe Red Globe Grapes are semi-transparent purplish-red in color, with large clusters and plump berries, fine texture, and flesh that is...
Thin-skinned walnuts have a long history of cultivation. In the courtyard of the residence of the Lian family in Kongcun Town, there stands a walnut tree that is over 200 years old, yet still lush with foliage and heavy with fruit. Pingyin also has a village named after the walnut—“Walnut Hollow.” Walnuts are grown all over Pingyin. The more concentrated production areas include Pingyin Town, Meigui Town, and Hongfan...
Jujube is one of China’s specialties and is widely cultivated across the country. Shanghe County, located in the lower reaches of the Yellow River and within the drainage basin of the Tuohai River, enjoys a warm climate, moderate rainfall, and deep soil layers, making it highly suitable for jujube tree growth. The cultivation of jujube trees in Shanghe County has a long history, abundant resources, and a wide variety of cultivars. Among them, the King Kui Jujube is particularly prized…
Shanghe iron weaving originated in the Qing Dynasty, emerging in the areas of Sunji and Changzhuang in the eastern part of the county town, boasting a production history of 200 years. In the early years of the Republic of China, Shanghe iron weaving had already gained widespread fame. At that time, many artisans from Shanghe traveled across the seas to countries such as Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. The 1936 revised edition of the "Shanghe County Annals" recorded: 'Our county has never had factories, so industry is not very developed. However, the wire products made here, such as iron nets and iron cages, are of relatively high quality, and many are sold beyond the province and overseas.' By the eve of liberation, Shanghe iron weaving artisans had spread to cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang, Taiyuan, and Wuhan. Many of the iron weaving factories they established gradually developed into important local enterprises. Today, there are still nearly a thousand iron weaving technicians in Shanghe who teach the craft across the country.
Dong'e Pickles (Five-Spice Diced Pickles, Wrapped Melon) The five-spice diced pickles and wrapped melon produced in Dong'e Town have a history of over 130 years and are among the most well-known local specialties. They were once widely sold as far as Suzhou, Hangzhou, Changzhou, and Wuxi in the Jiangnan region. In the 1983 product quality evaluation, they were awarded the title of High-Quality Product by the Provincial Supply and Marketing Cooperative System. …
Pingyin County is located in the western suburbs of Jinan, with National Highways 105 and 220 as well as the Jining–Heze Expressway running through the area, making transportation very convenient. The yellow peach production area lies to the north of the Yellow River, with the South-to-North Water Diversion Canal passing through it. The climate is humid, and the soil is mainly cinnamon soil. The annual average temperature is 13.65°C, and the average annual precipitation is 700 mm, making it highly...
Big Lake Fish and Lotus Root －－ Shiny and colorful, the fish slices are fragrant, tender and soft, while the lotus root starch jelly is smooth, tender and refreshing. The dish leaves a lingering aftertaste that stays with you long after the meal. Big Lake Fish and Lotus Root is a famous dish from Jinan. Ingredients used include black carp (about 1.5 jin) from Jinan’s Big Lake, lotus flowers, lotus seeds, and lotus root starch. Cooking techniques involve using lotus root starch and black...
Geographical Area MingShui Fragrant Rice is named after its origin in MingShui Town, Zhangqiu District, Jinan, and is one of the famous specialties of Shandong Province. Unique Qualities The grains of MingShui fragrant rice are slightly yellow, plump, firm in texture, with a transparent, glossy, and oily appearance. It boasts an exceptionally rich and aromatic fragrance that is truly refreshing. Its aroma is more intense than that of other types of fragrant rice...
Shanghe Coarse Cloth, a national intangible cultural heritage handwoven textile, is a pure cotton handmade fabric used by laboring people for thousands of years. It originated over 1,000 years ago in the Shanghe region and flourished during the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods. It features a strong rural charm and distinctive ethnic characteristics. In today’s trend of favoring green...
Fried lotus flowers are a famous specialty snack from Jinan, renowned for their lotus and osmanthus fragrance, sweet and savory taste, ability to clear summer heat and remove turbidity, as well as nourish the heart and calm the nerves. The lotus petals are washed and dried with a white cloth, the stems are trimmed, and each petal is cut into two pieces. The red bean paste is divided into twenty-four portions, one portion placed on each piece of lotus, then folded over and wrapped. Flour is placed in a bowl, mixed with egg...
Jinan-style Spicy Chicken Cubes are known for their quick stir-frying technique and crispy yet tender texture. The main ingredient is chicken cubes, with additional ingredients including peanuts, red chili sauce, white sugar, salt, soy sauce, scallions, ginger, garlic, cooking oil, and baking soda. The resulting dish features brightly colored chicken that is fragrant, tender, and delicious, complemented by the aroma of peanuts...
Mingshui White Lotus Root: Mingshui White Lotus Root is a famous specialty of Jinan, produced in the area around Bai Mai Spring in Mingshui. It is renowned worldwide for its jade-like whiteness, tender texture, large size, crisp sweetness, and lack of residue after chewing. Historical records indicate that it has been cultivated since the early Warring States period. It shares the same origin as the world-renowned Mingshui Fragrant Rice, both stemming from the famous mountain spring "Bai Mai Spring" in central Shandong. The initial cultivation area was around the eastern gate (now Bai Mai Spring Park) and western gate (now Yanming Spring Park) of Mingshui Dongmen, boasting over 3,000 years of cultivation history. A poem bears witness to this: “The waters of Xiujiang River are so clear, the fragrance of lotus flowers mingles with that of rice.”
Braised Asparagus with Abalone is a famous dish from Jinan. Abalone is a type of marine mollusk, also known as "large abalone," and its shell is a valuable medicinal ingredient called "Shi Jue Ming." Its flesh is golden yellow, and the thicker pieces are considered the best, making it one of the "Eight Delicacies of the Sea." When paired with tender, crisp, and fresh asparagus, the dish becomes a perfect harmony of flavors. Braised Asparagus with Abalone is a signature dish from Jinan’s Jufengde Restaurant…
Luokou Vinegar. This specialty vinegar has a history of 200 years. It won a gold medal at the 1921 Panama–Pacific International Exposition, and after 1950, it participated in multiple provincial trade fairs, earning both gold and silver medals. Luokou Vinegar is renowned for its carefully selected ingredients, unique brewing technique, well-aged fermentation, fragrant aroma, mild acidity, dual food-and-medicine benefits, and long shelf life…
Produced in Jiyang, Shandong, with nearly 150 varieties, it mainly includes jars, pots, cups, bottles, zun (wine vessels), jue (wine cups), hammers, li (tripod cauldrons), baskets, bells, ding (tripod cauldrons), incense burners, painted plates, seismoscopes, pen holders, candlesticks, wall lamps, as well as wall decorations, murals, and figurines of people and animals. The tallest piece reaches a height of 2 meters, and the most challenging to produce is the typical Longshan...