Tianzhu Mountain is home to over a thousand varieties of plants and flowers, among which the Daphne odora is the most precious and rarest. The Daphne odora on Tianzhu Mountain mostly grows in high-altitude areas at around 1,300 to 1,400 meters above sea level. Its branches are low and it remains evergreen all year round, undeterred by wind, snow, and severe cold. In early summer, its new leaves are emerald green, thick, and shiny. The Daphne odora comes in a variety of colors, including purple, red, yellow,…
The Yuexi Black Pig originates from the Huai Pig. During the Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties period (3rd–6th century), the economy of the Huaibei Plain was devastated by war and floods, leading to the southward migration of Huai Pigs to the regions along both sides of the Huai River in Anhui. Among them, those that migrated to the high-altitude, rugged hinterlands of the Dabie Mountains at the watershed between the Yangtze and Huai river basins—specifically Yuexi—were domesticated and selectively bred over time, forming a traditional local breed of black pig. In Yuexi…
Yuexi mulberry bark paper is a specialty of Yuexi County, Anqing, Anhui Province. It is a special type of paper made primarily from the bark of mulberry trees grown in Maojianshan Township, located in the heart of the Dabie Mountains within Yuexi County, Anhui. The production involves over 30 traditional handcrafting processes. The history of producing mulberry bark paper in Yuexi County goes back a long way — for more than…
Every late autumn and early winter is a season of harvest and a time to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. Villagers take freshly harvested rice and combine it with high-quality green beans, soybeans, red beans, peas, fava beans, and other legumes to make delicious bean pancakes. Due to the abundance of legumes in the ingredients, coupled with the process where the mixture is cooked into a flat cake (or “baba”) on the bottom of the pan, this is how the bean...
Maoxiang is a common wild wormwood found in the mountains, which usually sprouts tender shoots in the second or third lunar month. Its green leaves are fuzzy to the touch and emit a fragrant aroma, hence locals commonly call it maoxiang. The tender maoxiang is crushed into a paste and mixed with rice flour made from a blend of indica rice and glutinous rice, resulting in a dark green maoxiang rice cake that is aromatic and very tasty. The maoxiang rice cake has a…
Glutinous rice balls are an essential dish for people in Yuexi before every festival or holiday. With a long history, they are a must-make during the Spring Festival, almost becoming a symbol of the New Year. Families exchange these balls with neighbors to sample flavors and strengthen bonds. They are also a top choice for organizations to distribute as festive gifts and a great present for relatives and friends. Recipe introduction…
Yueshan Shanshan Handmade Rice Crisps, relive 0 love. I still remember as a child, after Mom cooked salted pork and mung bean glutinous rice, she would carefully bake it into golden glutinous rice crisps. These were given to relatives and friends, fed to children, and enjoyed at home, bringing warmth and joy. Shanshan Rice Crisps are a specialty of the Dabie Mountain farming households—a pure, natural, green, and traditional delicacy...
Fresh Bamboo Shoots: China is one of the earliest countries to consume bamboo shoots, with a history of over 3,000 years. Bamboo shoots are mainly produced in the Yangtze River basin and southern regions of China, and they are highly nutritious. Their unique coarse fiber, rich trace elements, various vitamins and amino acids, as well as their pollution-free growing environment, have made them...
A traditional Han Chinese festive food, popular in the Jianghuai region. The glutinous rice is first steamed, then cooled and loosened before being stir-fried until fluffy. It is then coated with maltose syrup to form into balls. The name symbolizes happiness and reunion. These are eaten during the Spring Festival and also given as gifts.…
Ingredients: 300g dried lotus seeds, 200g white sugar. Preparation: First soak the lotus seeds in clean water until they swell, then remove the husks and hearts. Place them in a large bowl, cover with water, and steam over high heat for about an hour until the seeds are soft. Remove from the steamer. In another pot, add a large bowl of water along with the white sugar and the steamed lotus seeds, then simmer over low heat...
Stewed Chicken with Stone Ear Fungus is a famous dish in Huizhou cuisine. Stone ear fungus is a lichen-like plant that grows on rocks in the mountainous regions of Huizhou. Rich in various vitamins, it has extremely high nutritional value. Ancient people regarded it as “the most precious dish when served in a soup to guests.” Hen chickens are also highly nutritious, with their meat being rich in protein and known to strengthen the spleen and stimulate appetite, replenish deficiencies, and fortify bones...
Qianshan bamboo mats are also known as Shu mats. They are fine, thin, smooth, durable, resistant to wear, moth-proof, and easy to fold. A poem praises them: “Slightly cooler than bamboo mats,” and “Woven to withstand fragrant sweat.” The poet Bai Juyi wrote: “Though the sun is high, I still sleep behind the water window, with pillows and mats cool in the August air.” During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Shu mats gained fame both in China and abroad, being exported to Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Thailand...
Bamboo mats from Qianshan County (formerly known as Shuzhou) are a traditional product, with both men and women, young and old, in the southern foothills of Tianzhu Mountain skilled in weaving. They were renowned throughout the Jianghuai region during the Ming Dynasty and exported to Southeast Asia by the late Qing Dynasty. Today, there are more varieties and the craftsmanship is even more refined. The mats have evolved from bed mats and pillow mats to wall hangings, wall coverings, and tatami mats, with a large volume being exported. Shu mats use exquisite materials and are exquisitely crafted. Coarse mats are woven from speckled bamboo and moso bamboo...
"Longmian Chuncai" is a high-end specialty green tea, recommended at the "1998 China International Famous Teas, Tea Products, and Tea Culture Exhibition." The fresh leaves used are tenderly picked, and the finished tea has slightly flat strips with a verdant green color. It boasts a refreshing, mellow taste and a lasting, fragrant aroma, making it a natural green beverage. Developed by Tongcheng Famous Tea Science and Technology Development Corporation, the new famous tea "Longmian Chuncai"...
A specialty of Tongcheng, these silk dates are made by slicing locally grown fresh jujubes, soaking them in sugar syrup, then first boiling them in a copper pot before simmering over low heat for about seven hours until the dates are tender and the syrup is absorbed. The dates are then taken out and dried, resulting in a sweet, crisp texture — a premium-quality silk date. Legend has it that Tongcheng silk dates were once offered as tribute to Qing emperors and designated as an imperial delicacy. (Anqing)…
It is a uniquely flavored traditional breakfast dish from Tongcheng City, renowned as early as the Ming and Qing dynasties. Back then, the most beloved breakfast for residents of the ancient city was a cup of clear tea paired with a plate of glossy and translucent vegetable heart cakes. Along the streets of the county town, shops and teahouses specializing in vegetable heart cakes were everywhere, enjoying booming business. The making of Tongcheng Vegetable Heart Cake is extremely meticulous…
Tianzhu Mountain chestnuts are a specialty of Tianzhu Mountain in Qianshan County, Anqing City, Anhui Province. In addition to being eaten raw, Tianzhu Mountain chestnuts can also be roasted, ground, and processed into pastries, canned goods, and more. Braised Pork with Chestnuts is a delicious dish. Chestnuts also have numerous medicinal benefits, such as aiding digestion and nourishing the kidneys. The history of chestnut cultivation in Qianshan County dates back a long time, and local foresters have shown great enthusiasm...
Tianzhu Mountain Melon Seeds are a protected product under China’s National Geographical Indication system. They are produced in the Tianzhu Mountain area of Qianshan County, Anhui Province. As a purely natural green food, they are highly nutritious, with a smooth, crisp, uniquely fragrant taste and distinctive flavor. Overview Tianzhu Mountain Melon Seeds are a protected product under China’s National Geographical Indication system. They are produced in the Tianzhu Mountain area of Qianshan County, Anhui Province...
The birthplace of “Lao Xiu” brand Glutinous Rice Sealed Vat Wine — Chazhuang Village in Tianzhu Mountain Town — is a mountainous tourist town blessed with beautiful scenery and rich historical and cultural heritage. Chazhuang was once known as the homeland of tribute beverages, supplying tea exclusively to the Tianzhu Zen Temple (bestowed by Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty) and the Crown Prince’s Pavilion (where Liang Emperor Zhaoming, the Crown Prince, studied). The rice wine of Chazhuang has been produced since the Tang Dynasty...
Features: Clear soup, delicious flavor, tender turtle meat, with a cooling and fire-purging effect. Ingredients: One live old turtle (about 1 jin / 500g), 2 liang (100g) stone ear fungus, 1 liang (50g) pork fat, a little scallion, ginger, and salt. Preparation Method: Soak the stone ear fungus in warm water until softened, remove the hard center stem, wash off the black water. Slice the pork fat into a comb-like pattern...