The culinary essence of Gulangyu Island lies in its four seafood treasures: crab, shrimp, fish, and shellfish. Shrimp balls are one of the more common delicacies. Made by grinding fresh shrimp into a paste and mixing it with seasonings such as monosodium glutamate, salt, and egg whites, the mixture is kneaded until soft and then formed into balls. Shrimp balls can be pan-fried, stir-fried, or even boiled in plain water—yet their uniquely tender and delicious flavor remains unmistakable. …
The main ingredient of Gulangyu Rice Cake is glutinous rice. Snow-white, high-quality glutinous rice is soaked until thoroughly saturated, then steamed over a stove. While still hot, it is pounded with special tools into a chewy rice cake. The cake is then filled with sesame, peanuts, sugar, and other sweet fillings—delicate, dainty, and delicious.…
Beizai Cake is a specialty snack of Gulangyu Island. A small knife is used to make an opening in the cake, which is then filled with ingredients such as peanut brittle, shredded pork floss, sweet-and-sour radish, canned fish, and coriander. The cake itself is nothing special, but with the fillings added, it becomes truly unique and delicious. …
Nanputuo Vegetarian Cuisine features over 40 famous dishes. The main ingredients include rice and flour, soy products, vegetables, mushrooms, wood ear fungus, and more. Xiamen’s vegetarian cuisine emphasizes presentation, color, and flavor, with most dishes named after their shapes. Not only are they excellent in color, aroma, taste, and form, but each vegetarian dish also has its own unique flavor. The dish names are also quite refined, such as “Half Moon…”
Peanut soup is a uniquely sweet and flavorful delicacy from Xiamen—refreshingly sweet, delicious, and nourishing for the lungs. A saying in the Xiamen dialect goes: “It blooms on top, bears fruit below, and both adults and children love it to death.” This riddle-like phrase reveals just how universally beloved peanuts are. The work "The Peanut" by Southern Fujian writer Xu Dishan, with its natural and witty style, describes the various ways peanuts can be cooked and eaten...
A beloved dish served during the Spring Festival in Xiamen, these spring rolls originated from the traditional Quanzhou dish "Nenbing Cai." They are meant to be shared and assembled by everyone around the table, symbolizing family unity and happiness. The filling alone is quite elaborate, featuring over ten ingredients such as carrots, cabbage, fresh shrimp, shredded pork, oysters, and snow pea sprouts. …
Rice Vermicelli Soup is made by simmering a flavorful broth with fresh seafood such as shrimp, oysters, razor clams, and mussels, then cooking it with thin rice noodles until it forms a smooth, porridge-like consistency. The key to cooking it lies in getting the heat just right—achieving a thick yet not overly soft texture, where the noodles remain distinct. Aside from seafood, the soup can also be enhanced with duck intestines, pig’s blood, or even a whole string of pork intestines added to the mixture, allowing their rich oils to infuse the dish. When served...
The "Stewed Pork Belly" of Tong'an County in southern Fujian. The dish involves placing a whole slab of pork belly in a basin, covering it, and steaming it until cooked. The lid is only lifted when the dish is served at the table, hence the name "Stewed Pork Belly" (literally "sealed meat"). It is quite famous locally and is never missing from banquet tables during weddings, housewarmings, or other celebrations. Overseas Chinese also make sure to have a taste of this hometown specialty when they return to visit. …
Crocodile Islet (also known as Crocodile Island), also referred to as White Islet, is located in the southeastern waters of Dongzui Harbor in Xiang'an Bay, Xiamen. Covering an area of 149,500 square meters, it is shaped like a crocodile. The islet is famous for producing the world-renowned lancelet. The vegetation coverage on the islet is relatively high. There are over 20 two-story brick-and-stone buildings and bungalows on the island, along with two freshwater wells,…
The Crocodile Islet Oyster Juice and Crocodile Islet Oyster Sauce produced by Xiamen Yangjiang Oyster Sauce Import & Export Co., Ltd. have officially obtained the Certificate of Origin Mark Registration issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, making them the first enterprise in Xiamen to receive such certification. The raw materials for the "Yangjiang" brand Crocodile Islet Oyster Sauce and Crocodile Islet Oyster Juice from Xiamen...
Tong'an Large Braised Pig Trotter is a signature delicacy from Xiamen that is both delicious and healthy. The skin-on pig trotter offers unique nutritional and health benefits. Modern nutritional studies have shown that pork skin is rich in collagen and elastin. A lack of these substances in human cells can significantly reduce the moisture content within cells, leading to dry skin and the appearance of wrinkles. In the elderly, this can also result in a thinner, more frail physique. The pig trotter is an excellent food therapy item for enriching and moisturizing the skin, as well as strengthening the body and promoting weight gain.
Fresh and Live Seafood is a famous dish from Xiamen, Fujian. Seafood dishes made with locally sourced grouper, yellow croaker, red crab, and local squid have been regarded as authentic delicacies since the Qing Dynasty. The ingredients used in seafood dishes emphasize freshness, ideally bought and cooked on the spot. Customers can select lively, live seafood from the restaurant’s seafood tank, have it weighed on the spot…
Fried Dates are a traditional snack commonly found in rural households and street stalls in the Xiamen area. In the Jiangnan region, they are known as “sesame balls.” Made by kneading glutinous rice flour and japonica rice flour from the local area into dough and then deep-frying it, these snacks have no filling in the center and are coated with sesame seeds on the outside—hence the name “sesame balls.” The ingredients are divided into the outer layer (skin) and the filling. The skin is typically made from finely ground or milled premium sweet potato and rice, while the filling usually consists of peanuts…
Taro Ball Soup is a delicacy from Xiamen, Fujian. The soup broth is carefully prepared by first mixing the appropriate amount of cold water with minced meat, then adding minced ginger, an appropriate amount of salt, a little soy sauce, MSG, and a bit of starch. Once well mixed, it's ready to be added to the soup. The taro balls are then placed in the soup, and once they float to the surface, you can add your favorite ingredients such as tomatoes or leafy greens...
Duck with glass noodles is a specialty dish from Xiamen, Fujian. Crisp-tender or soft and glutinous, paired with a delicious broth, it offers an ultimate treat for the taste buds. The whole duck is simmered in a braising liquid made from dozens of traditional Chinese medicinal spices until fully flavored, then smoked with aromatic seasonings. The flavorful smoked duck is served with richly brewed premium stock and crystal-clear glass noodles. When eaten...
Radish skin is a distinctive delicacy from Xiamen, Fujian. This dish is suitable for all ages, made with premium ingredients and exquisite craftsmanship. It breaks away from traditional cooking methods and offers high nutritional value. Its flavor is slightly sour, salty, and aromatic. To make radish skin, simply wash water radishes, remove the roots and tips, and slice off the skin with a knife—preferably in thicker slices…
Stir-fried squab is a signature dish from Xiamen, Fujian, known for its crisp, fragrant texture and delicious taste. Main ingredients: 2 squabs, 1000g cooking oil (100g consumed); 20g soaked dried mushrooms; 100g lean pork; 200g water chestnuts; 15g yellow chives; 10g ham; 10g Zhejiang vinegar; 5g MSG; thin…
Bucket rice is a specialty dish from Xiamen, Fujian. It is an Eastern-style method of cooking food. Typically, other ingredients are added inside the wooden bucket; not only is it visually appealing, but it also tastes great, making it a common way to prepare staple foods in Chinese cuisine. The main appeal of bucket rice lies in the aroma of the wood and bamboo.…
Longan is a specialty of Tong’an, known for its large size, thin skin, thick flesh, juicy texture, and sweet, refreshing taste. In the past, it was an imperial tribute presented to feudal emperors, but now it is a highly sought-after fruit among both domestic and international tourists. Tong’an is one of China’s top six longan-producing counties, boasting over a hundred varieties and a cultivation area of 30 million square meters. The longan produced here is exported across the country…
Fried Shallot Rice Cake is a famous snack from Fujian. It is steamed using rice paste, lard, and a variety of seasonings. With an attractive color, tender and glutinous texture, fragrant aroma, refreshing taste, and good elasticity, it is one of the renowned snacks in the Xiamen area. Ingredients: (for 50 pieces) 2500g early indica rice, 1500g scallion whites, 2500g pork leg meat (skinless)…