Bolonggu Potatoes are a specialty of Bolonggu Township in Shawan County, Tacheng Prefecture, Xinjiang. The potatoes produced here are large in size, smooth-skinned, uniformly shaped, flavorful, easy to transport, and have good storage qualities. The main potato-growing areas in Shawan County are located in several towns in the southern mountainous region, especially in Bolonggu Township, which has the largest cultivation area...
As the name suggests, Oil Pagoda Dumplings are shaped like a pagoda and are a beloved oily flour-based food among the Uyghur people. They are commonly eaten for breakfast, usually served with noodle soup. The dumplings are white and glossy, with dough as thin as paper, many layers, rich in oil yet not greasy, fragrant and soft without sticking, making them suitable for all ages. The making of Oil Pagoda Dumplings is not very simple and requires certain skills. Experienced chefs first knead the dough with warm...
Corps 84 of the Fifth Agricultural Division, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, is located in the Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang and is known as the “Hometown of China’s Pigment Chrysanthemum.” This year, the corps has achieved a bumper harvest of 7,300 acres of pigment chrysanthemums, and the first round of harvesting has commenced. Pigment chrysanthemum is a variety of marigold that not only serves ornamental purposes...
Smoked Meat and Horse Intestine The months of November and December are the peak season for Kazakh herders to smoke meat. During this time, they select well-fed cattle, horses, and sheep to slaughter for winter provisions. To preserve the meat for a longer period, they use a method refined over many years—smoking...
Bole Red Globe grapes benefit from a unique climate—blue skies, white clouds, long hours of sunshine, and a daily temperature variation of up to 20°C. The water comes from melted snow of the Tianshan Mountains, and the soil is dry, sandy loam. The Fifth Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is located within the Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, on the southwestern edge of the Junggar Basin, forming an optimal climate zone for growing table grapes. Since the 20…
【Chinese Name】高白鲑 【Scientific Name】Coregonus peled 【Species Classification】Belongs to the order Salmoniformes, family Salmonidae, genus Coregonus. 【Image】The image shows an adult High Whitefish, weighing approximately 3.5 kg, from Sayram Lake in Xinjiang, China. 【Introduction】 High Whitefish (Coregonus Peled) is a cold-water fish species belonging to the order Salmoniformes, family Salmonidae, and genus Coregonus. It is a unique species originally from the former Soviet Union. Originally distributed across vast freshwater areas of the former Soviet Union north of 50°N latitude, it thrives in cool, low-temperature waters with optimal growth temperatures of 12–16°C, pH levels of 6–9, and salinity ranging from 1‰ to 13‰. High Whitefish are not very demanding in terms of diet, primarily feeding on zooplankton, along with some benthic organisms. They have a short food chain, grow rapidly, and can reach lengths of up to 55 cm and weights of up to 3 kg. They typically reach sexual maturity in three years. Natural spawning occurs at water temperatures between 1–3°C, during the period from late November to early January of the following year. Morphologically, their upper and lower jaws are of equal length; the body is tall, with the back generally arching into a curve behind the head. The color is black, with large black spots on the head (upper and lateral parts) and small black dots on the dorsal fin. High Whitefish can be divided into three types: river type, lake type, and river-lake type. 【Aquaculture】 This species has white flesh, high fat content, and a high meat yield (60%). Its diet mainly consists of zooplankton, making it suitable for farming in large cold-water bodies. It thrives within a temperature range of 0–25°C, with the optimal range being 12–15°C, and tolerates salinity levels of 0.2‰ to 6‰. This species is suitable for promotion and farming in deepwater lakes and high-altitude reservoirs in Northeast China, the Yunnan-Guizhou-Sichuan region, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and areas north of the Yangtze River. In China, Sayram Lake in the Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture had no fish inhabiting it in the past. After years of research and development, from 1998 to 2003, a total of 29.4 million eyed eggs of High Whitefish and Arctic Whitefish were introduced from Russia over six consecutive years. These were hatched and released into Sayram Lake as 14 million fry. By the end of 2002, male High Whitefish in Sayram Lake averaged 1.9 kg in weight, females averaged 2.2 kg, with the largest individual reaching 3.6 kg. In 2002, the lake entered the commercial fishing phase, yielding over 30 tons of market-ready fish, with plans to catch 100 tons in 2003. From 2000 to 2002, Xinjiang fisheries workers conducted on-site spawning, egg collection, and fertilization of parent fish in Sayram Lake, then transported them to the Wenquan Coldwater Fish Breeding Base for artificial incubation. After approximately four months, over 11 million surviving High Whitefish fry were obtained domestically for the first time. The successful domestic breeding of High Whitefish marked a new stage in the development of coldwater fish varieties. The first batch of fry was introduced to provinces and regions including Beijing, Sichuan, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Qinghai. In 2003, another 800,000 fry were shipped to Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia. Currently, a preliminary fishery structure has been formed, mainly consisting of High Whitefish, Arctic Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, and Golden Trout. The production model, focused on transplantation, stock enhancement, reproduction, and fishing, has steadily improved both economic and social benefits. By the end of 2009, adult High Whitefish in the Tekes River system and Qabqiqi Reservoir weighed over 1,000 g each. High Whitefish are highly adaptable, especially suited to low-temperature environments. Their meat is delicious, free of intermuscular bones, and they grow quickly. In Sayram Lake, they primarily feed on natural prey such as hook shrimp and Tibetan copepods. Since High Whitefish feed entirely on natural food sources and the lake water remains unpolluted (with inflows mainly consisting of glacial meltwater, mountain precipitation, and spring water), they are rightfully regarded as an “organic” fish species, with broad market prospects.
Origin: Bortala Goji berries, also known by many names: in Henan they are called 枸子 (Gouzi) or 红耳坠 (Hong'erzhui); in Shanxi, 地骨子 (Diguizi) or 枸茄茄 (Gouqieqie); in Nantong, Jiangsu, 枸杞头 (Gouqitou); and in Tianjin, 血杞子 (Xueqizi). They belong to the Solanaceae family of deciduous shrubs and come in both wild and cultivated varieties. It is generally believed that those produced in Zhongning, Zhongwei, and Ningwu in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region are of...
The company’s roasted snack series “Ronghai” melon seeds are made from premium materials. The cracked melon seeds feature black edges and white centers with a clear contrast, and their surface is flat and smooth. Grade A seeds, when ten are placed horizontally, span over 10 cm. They have a uniquely fragrant aroma, no warped seeds, no white skins, and no foreign debris other than melon seeds. (Bortala...)
Bortala Prefecture has 1.6242 million hectares of grassland, providing favorable conditions for the development of the ephedra and licorice industries. The prefecture plans to utilize the transformation of low- to medium-yield farmland and reclaimed land, leveraging the national policy of returning farmland to forest and grassland, to vigorously develop the cultivation of ephedra and licorice. The goal is to achieve a planting scale of 300,000 mu of licorice and ephedra within 3 to 5 years...
The brine shrimp of Ebinur Lake, known as the "soft gold" of the aquaculture industry, is a unique and advantageous resource in Bortala. Ebinur Lake in Bortala is one of China's major production areas for brine shrimp. According to experts, the annual resource volume of Ebinur Lake brine shrimp can reach 20,000 tons, while the resource volume of their eggs is between 200 and 400 tons. The development and utilization of Ebinur Lake brine shrimp and their eggs have become a widely watched focus both domestically and internationally. To protect and rationally develop these resources for sustainable use, in October 1988, the People’s Government of Bortala Prefecture issued the "Interim Regulations on the Development and Utilization of Ebinur Lake Brine Shrimp Resources," gradually bringing the exploitation of brine shrimp resources under legal management. In 1999, unified planning and development of the entire prefecture’s brine shrimp resources were implemented. The “Ebinur Lake Biological Products Co., Ltd.” was established, which collaborated with multiple domestic scientific research and production units to introduce capital, technology, and equipment. This led to the development and production of brine shrimp products, yielding considerable economic benefits and marking new progress in the development of brine shrimp resources. (Bortala)
Jinghe goji berries are renowned as the "red agate." Their fruits are bright red, large, plump, thin-skinned, thick-fleshed, rich in sugar, and highly medicinal, making them very popular among consumers. Jinghe County in Xinjiang is one of the birthplaces of goji berries in China, ranking among the top in domestic goji resources, with abundant goji germplasm resources. The county also has a large distribution of wild...
Origin: Bortala Sailimu Lake had no fish living in it in the early years. After years of research and development, from 1998 to 2003, a total of 29.4 million eyed eggs of Arctic whitefish and European whitefish were introduced from Russia over six consecutive years. Through hatching, 14 million fry of Arctic whitefish and European whitefish were released into Sailimu Lake. By 200…
Jinghe County was once famous for its large watermelons. The 1,000-mu field of "Zaojin" melons cultivated by the Bajiahu Farm under a "reverse lease and subcontract" model has now come onto the market, with sales extending to cities such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou. The Bajiahu Farm currently has over 40,000 mu of arable land, nearly 25,000 mu of which are highly suitable for growing Western and Oriental melons, and 15,000…
Reeds grow in ponds and are perennial herbaceous plants. Their slender and flexible stalks are premium raw materials for papermaking, rayon, and synthetic silk. They also serve as high-quality materials for construction, as well as for making reed mats and screens. (Bortala)…
Jinghe County has a cotton planting area of 210,000 mu, with a total output of 420,000 dan. All planted cotton varieties are medium-staple types, mainly including Zhongmian 24 and the Xinlu Early series, with variety 822 being the predominant one. These two varieties are characterized by high strength, moderate micronaire values, fiber lengths exceeding 29mm, low sugar content, and excellent spinnability. In 1995, they were designated...
Huang Mibao is a mid-to-late maturing variety with a growth cycle of about 110 days and a fruit development period of 50 days. The average weight per melon is 4.5 kilograms. The fruit is oblong-oval in shape, with the stem remaining attached. The rind is yellow with green streaks, featuring medium-coarse netting that densely covers the entire surface. The flesh is orange-red, 4.5 centimeters thick, with a crisp texture and relatively hard skin, making it resistant to...
Grapes have a sweet and mild flavor, nourishing the body, promoting robustness, helping resist hunger, and providing protection against wind and cold. Raisins are one of the distinctive foods of Xinjiang. Nutritional benefits: Raisins are rich in iron and calcium, making them an excellent tonic for children, women, and those who are physically weak or anemic. They help enrich blood and qi, warm the kidneys, treat anemia, and increase low platelet counts. Containing large amounts of glucose, raisins nourish heart muscle...
Plov is one of the most beloved dishes among the Uyghur people. Known as "polo" in the Uyghur language, it is a staple dish served to family and honored guests during festivals, holidays, weddings, and other joyous occasions. It is especially essential to prepare plov when hosting events such as weddings or funerals. The main ingredients of plov include rice, lamb, …
Hand-held lamb is a specialty dish from Wenquan County in Bortala Prefecture, Xinjiang. Commonly referred to as “hand-held meat,” it gets its name because it is eaten by hand, with diners slicing the meat directly using a knife. The meat is tender, juicy, and full of authentic flavor, with a delicious broth that is rich and the lamb is succulent and tender. Hand-held lamb, commonly known as “hand-held meat,” is so called because it is eaten by hand, sliced with a knife...
Cold-water fish sashimi Cold-water fish sashimi (Sashimi refers to freshly sliced cold-water fish served on ice, typically eaten with a side of soy sauce and a suitable amount of wasabi for dipping. Characteristics: vibrant in color, refreshing and invigorating, tender and delicious.)…