Tiantangzhai is a habitat for various rare medicinal herbs and local specialty products. It currently has over 1,000 varieties of precious Chinese medicinal herbs, such as wild gastrodia elata, wild ganoderma lucidum, American ginseng, lily, eucommia bark, poria cocos, paris polyphylla, erigeron breviscapus, and cordyceps sinensis. Major medicinal material distribution centers across the country (such as the Bozhou Medicinal Materials Market) source large quantities...
"Tongshan Longya" is produced in Tongshan, Jing County — a renowned tea-growing region nestled at the northern foot of Huangshan Mountain and by the side of Taihu Lake. The area features overlapping peaks, misty clouds, murmuring streams, and a uniquely beautiful natural environment, making it exceptionally well-suited for cultivating high-quality premium teas. This tea is made from tender buds and one or two leaves, meticulously processed using both traditional and modern techniques...
Wangtan in the Bay Area is located by the Pi River, boasting fertile land and abundant water resources. With a long-standing tradition of vegetable cultivation, it is one of the pollution-free vegetable demonstration bases in Lu’an City. The varieties include chili peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and edamame, among which the green-brand “Lücai” chili has been registered. To further improve the quality of vegetable production and refine and expand the green...
Small Hanging Rice Wine from Tongluozhai is made from premium glutinous white rice, which is soaked, washed, steamed, and then fermented with Liangzi flower yeast. It is brewed using unpolluted spring water that seeps from the crevices of local mountain rocks, carefully distilled in cedar wood wine vats. The Small Hanging Rice Wine from Tongluozhai is crafted using traditional methods with a history of over a thousand years. Its alcohol content is generally below 2…
- belongs to the Moraceae family and is an annual herbaceous plant. It is highly fertilizer-tolerant, adaptable, and rarely suffers from pests or diseases. - is also called "Kui hemp," and after retting and washing, it is referred to as "cold-processed hemp," while - is known as "white hemp." According to historical records, as early as the Tang Dynasty, Lu'an was a major - producing area in Huainan, with a cultivation history of about a thousand years. By the end of the 18th century, Lu'an - accounted for around...
The Yipinzhai writing brush shop was established in the 15th year of the Daoguang reign (1835). The brush-making artisan Xia Jun’an recruited master craftsmen, sought out experts, consulted users, and trained apprentices, drawing on the strengths of both northern and southern brush-making techniques. Within a few years, the shop gained widespread fame, and its products sold well in cities such as Nanjing and Shanghai. In the first year of the Xuantong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1909), at the South Seas Arts and Crafts Exhibition…
The food and beverages of western Anhui have long been renowned. Key local specialties include Shouxian’s “Great Lifesaver” pastries, Bagongshan tofu, Linshui Spring liquor, Longjin beer, Matouji small-grind sesame oil, dehydrated vegetables, and healthy mountain greens (Lu’an)…
The fine livestock and poultry breeds in western Anhui mainly include Dabie Mountain Yellow Cattle, Western Anhui Water Buffalo, Huoqiu White Goats, Western Anhui White Geese, and Mahuang Chickens; premium aquatic products include Huai King Fish, Wabu Lake Silverfish, Huoqiu Lobster, Eel, and Turtles (Lu’an)…
Lu'an Melon Seed Tea has a long history. According to the *Annals of Lu'an Prefecture*, "The finest tea was first offered as tribute in the Ming Dynasty." This indicates that Lu'an Melon Seed Tea was already well-known as early as the Ming Dynasty. In recent years, the tea has seen rapid development, with successful mechanized processing and roasting, leading to a dramatic increase in production. The harvesting and production of Lu'an Melon Seed Tea…
Tongluozhai Small-Hanging Rice Wine is a specialty of Tongluozhai in Huoshan County, Lu’an City, Anhui Province. The small-hanging rice wine is made from premium glutinous white rice, which undergoes soaking, washing, steaming, and fermentation with Liuzihua wine yeast. It is then brewed using clear, unpolluted spring water that seeps from mountain rock crevices, and carefully distilled in cedar wood distillation vessels. After tasting, visitors find it unforgettable, and it also makes…
Spicy noodles are a Sichuan snack made by cooking thick wheat noodles and topping them with secret-recipe broad bean paste, spicy beef, peanuts, chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and other seasonings. When locals in Lu'an talk about spicy noodles, they often think of the old Sichuan Noodle Shop beneath the Baihua Cinema. Since the Baihua Cinema was demolished, there are still four spicy noodle restaurants left in Lu'an: two located in the alley behind Shangdao Coffee, one on Qiyun West Road, and one in Wupaili. Personally, I prefer the one in Wupaili—the owner is a genuine Sichuanese, and the flavor seems the most authentic.
Guotie are pan-fried dumplings, typically shaped like crescent-shaped dumplings. The way Lu'an makes guotie originates from Sujiabu, which is why you often see signs on the street for “XX Sujiabu Guotie.” Wupaili’s guotie were once quite famous, but whether due to arrogance from being a big-name shop or not, the quality has been declining — each batch is worse than the last... One batch of dumplings gets only one round of frying when it should have three, and the taste inevitably suffers. However, Qiyundong Road’s Chihewu Restaurant maintains the authentic method of making guotie, and in these times of soaring prices, theirs still cost just five jiao each — the reason given is that it’s easier to calculate. In the early morning, enjoy some congee, side dishes, and a plate of aged vinegar guotie — truly delightful!
Now that we’ve talked about dumplings, it’s only natural to move on to buns. Back in the day, the state-run Da Jingguai Bun Shop was the talk of Lu’an, towering above all others with an unrivaled reputation. After the shop closed down, many tried to ride on its fame by selling buns under the Da Jingguai name, but their taste simply didn’t measure up. Today, the top spot among buns goes to Master Yuan’s Buns in Wupaili…
There's nothing better than dumplings. The Chinese have always had a fondness for them, making them a staple during the New Year when nearly every household eats them. In Lu'an, there are very few restaurants or food stalls that don't serve dumplings, but when it comes to cleanliness, hygiene, and great taste, there’s really none other than the long-established street stall at the corner of Laocangfang on Yunlu Street. This stall sits next to another street vendor run by a mother and daughter selling stinky tofu...
The most famous stinky tofu is probably from “Fire Palace” in Changsha, but when locals in Lu'an talk about stinky tofu, nine out of ten are referring to Zhou Family Stinky Tofu on Yunlu Street. Zhou Family Stinky Tofu originally gained its reputation from an old man surnamed Zhou who set up a street stall at Cangfangguai. However, his descendants didn’t live up to his legacy — although business thrived, the quality deteriorated. Nowadays, the best stinky tofu...
Sesame cake is a popular baked flatbread, also known as "fire cake" in northern China. Sesame cakes are sold all over the streets and alleys of Lu'an, but if you're looking for the best-tasting ones, Wupaili is the place to go. The sesame cakes from Wupaili are made with fermented dough, with extra scallion leaves and sesame seeds added, then baked in a traditional oven. They are known for their thick crust, fragrant taste, crispy bottom, and golden color—far surpassing the thin-skinned sesame cakes commonly found at street stalls.
Tribute Mat is a historic and traditional specialty product from western Anhui. During the Ming Dynasty’s Tian Shun era, Qin Minyue, an imperial historian and minister, brought Shu mats to the capital and presented them to Emperor Yingzong, who was highly impressed and immediately issued an imperial decree: “Bamboo from Dingshan, the Dragon’s Comfort Tribute Mat.” The Tribute Mat gained fame both in China and abroad for its exceptional craftsmanship and unique style. It once won the first prize in the bamboo mat category at the Panama International Exposition…
White garlic is large, plump, and spicy yet not overpowering, making it an essential seasoning ingredient. Rich in various nutrients, its sprouts, stems, leaves, and bulbs are all edible. Regular consumption of garlic can help prevent various diseases such as meningitis and gastroenteritis (Lu’an)…
Hemp varieties from western Anhui are traditional cash crops and well-known local specialties, renowned nationwide. The main types include Lu'an hemp, Shucheng jute, Huoqiu kenaf, and Jinzhai ramie (Lu'an)...
Western Anhui is one of the country's hemp-producing regions, with Lu'an hemp having been cultivated for over a thousand years. Lu'an has long been known as the “hometown of hemp.”…