Spicy Cans are a unique dish of the Xibe ethnic group. Typically, minced meat is prepared, long chili peppers are cut into 2-centimeter segments with the veins removed, and the minced meat is stuffed inside. After being coated in batter and deep-fried until golden brown, they are fished out and plated for serving. Some are also topped with a sauce, resulting in a spicy-sweet flavor that is appetizing and refreshing, stimulating the appetite. They are especially delicious when wrapped in leavened flatbread. The Xibe people’s Blood Sausage is also distinctive. When slaughtering a sheep, a large basin filled with saltwater is used to collect the blood. The blood is then slightly boiled in hot water to coagulate into blood clots, which are mashed and mixed with chopped sheep fat, minced onion, salt, ginger powder, pepper, and other seasonings before being stuffed into casings. The sausages are tightly tied and boiled in a pot until cooked. Served hot and sliced, they have a rich, fragrant taste that is oily yet not greasy. (Ili Kazakh)
Huiyuan carrots — The unique geographical and sunlight resources of Huiyuan Town have made it a major production area for specialty relay-cropped agriculture. Currently, buyers from various regions come to the town to purchase carrots, which have become one of the important ways for farmers to increase their income. Vegetable — The geographical area...
Compared to fruits like grapes, apples, peaches, and tree-dried apricots—which are widely cultivated and highly profitable—mulberries may not seem like a typical fruit to most people. However, mulberries are actually quite distinctive and offer numerous health benefits. Huocheng County is one of the main areas where mulberries are cultivated, typically ripening by the end of May, making them among the earliest fruits to mature in Ili...
In recent years, yams have gained popularity for their delicious taste, rich nutrition, and unique medicinal value. Yam cultivation has also brought tangible benefits to farmers in Huoyuan Town, Huocheng County, which has become the second-largest yam production base in Xinjiang. Yams thrive primarily in sandy loam soil and require ample sunlight and suitable...
Zhuosu County in Xinjiang is located in the southwestern part of Ili, within the Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. It is one of the counties designated by the State Council for opening up to the outside world. At the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, the Akhal-Teke horse is known as the “Heavenly Horse.” In ancient China, renowned horses such as the “Heavenly Horse,” “Horse from the Western Extremity,” and “Rouge Horse” all came from the Western Regions. The “Rouge Horse” refers to...
All counties and cities in Ili Prefecture possess unique natural conditions ideal for garlic cultivation. Farmers of various ethnicities have a long history of growing garlic, with many varieties available. Ili garlic enjoys high renown both within and beyond the region. Zhao Su County is located in a mountain basin at the upper reaches of the Tekes River, characterized by a cool, moist climate. These naturally superior growing conditions are highly suitable for garlic...
Zhaosu was once the territory of the ancient Wusun Kingdom. Since the second year of the Shenjue era of the Western Han Dynasty (60 BC), it has been under the administration of the Western Regions Protectorate established by the Han Dynasty in the Western Regions. For over two thousand years, it has remained a strategic frontier region in northwestern China, serving as a crossroads of Eastern and Western economies and cultures, a vital leg of the northern Silk Road, and the most internationally influential hub of commerce in ancient Western Regions. The Zhaosu Basin is surrounded by mountains, sits at a high altitude, enjoys abundant precipitation, and features a cool and moist climate. With an average annual sunshine duration of 2,699 hours, its unique light and heat resources are highly conducive to the growth of cool-loving crops such as rapeseed. It is one of the few regions in China capable of cultivating all three major types of rapeseed—mustard-type, leaf mustard-type, and cabbage-type. As the largest spring rapeseed-producing area in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Zhaosu routinely plants 800,000 to 900,000 mu of rapeseed, accounting for over 50% of the autonomous region’s total rapeseed cultivation area, and is hailed as the “Home of Rapeseed in China.” Around the end of June each year, boundless fields of golden rapeseed flowers sweep across the vast Zhaosu grasslands like enormous golden tapestries, complementing the nearby Tianshan Mountains in a breathtaking western spectacle. Every July, during the rapeseed blooming season, the Zhaosu Plateau becomes a scene of endless beauty. It is the season of rapeseed flowers, and also the best time to visit Zhaosu. People from all over come for various reasons to witness and enjoy the “rapeseed blossoms stretching from the roadside to the mountains, and from the mountains to the horizon.” Due to its climatic conditions, Zhaosu had been cultivating rapeseed since before the founding of the People's Republic of China, and its cultivation was further expanded after 1949. Since the late 1990s, Zhaosu County has vigorously developed its characteristic agriculture, continued to expand rapeseed planting, and introduced and promoted cabbage-type rapeseed varieties to replace leaf mustard-type ones, thereby increasing the economic efficiency of rapeseed farming. In 2004, the China Specialties Hometown Organizing Committee awarded Zhaosu County the title of “Home of Rapeseed in China.” The production of rapeseed in Zhaosu has undergone three major leaps: the first occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when production shifted from mustard-type to leaf mustard-type rapeseed, promoting reform in farming systems and ending the historical pattern of summer plowing and fall idleness; the second took place between 1999 and 2001, when production transitioned from leaf mustard-type to cabbage-type rapeseed, significantly increasing yield and quality; the third began in 2002 and continues today, shifting from conventional to hybrid varieties. Hybrid cabbage-type rapeseed has seen yield and benefits multiply compared to leaf mustard-type, and rapeseed planting area has surpassed that of wheat, making rapeseed the leading crop in Zhaosu County.
Zhaosu Potatoes are a geographical indication certification trademark. They are produced in Zhaosu County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Known for their large size, thin skin, shallow eyes, long storage life, and rich nutrition, Zhaosu potatoes are renowned throughout the region. The county boasts superior conditions for potato cultivation. First, Zhaosu County is located in the upper reaches of the Tekes River, a tributary of the Ili River in Xinjiang...
Located in the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps' Fourth Agricultural Division, known as the "Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall," this region is hailed as China’s lavender capital. With a climate similar to that of the Mediterranean — the original home of lavender — it has become the best area in the country for growing lavender. The region has over forty years of lavender cultivation history, covering a planting area of 22,000 mu, and its output accounts for…
The "Six-Petal Red" garlic grown in Zhaosu is a local premium variety of the county. The bulbs are round, with a diameter of 5–6 cm, and have pale purple skins. Each bulb weighs about 50 grams on average, with some reaching up to 100 grams. Most bulbs contain six cloves, hence the name "Six-Petal Red." This garlic is of high quality and stores well...
Smoked meat and horse sausage At the beginning of early winter, Kazakh families slaughter livestock to prepare winter meat, which is cured, smoked, and dried for the cold season. This winter meat is consumed until spring, and the Kazakhs call it “suomu.” Suomu is a general term for smoked or cured meat. Among the Kazakh suomu, the most famous is the horse rib sausage, commonly known as “horse sausage.” The horse rib sausage is made by stuffing tender, marbled horse ribs with bone into casings, then processing and smoking them, making it a premium variety of smoked meat. The Kazakhs call it “gazi.” Preparing pilaf with smoked horse sausage and smoked goose meat is an exquisite and high-quality dish to serve guests in winter.
The 68th Regiment of the Fourth Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is located within Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County in the Ili region of Xinjiang. It lies on the alluvial plain on the southern bank of the Ili River, boasting abundant water resources, highly permeable soil, and an annual accumulated temperature between 3300-3500°C. The area experiences significant diurnal temperature variations, especially during the rice young panicle differentiation and heading-flowering periods...
The "Morseq" of the Xibe people in Xinjiang means "dishes served in a bowl." This dish is made entirely from various offal parts of a sheep. Its variety, meticulous preparation, and delicious taste are rarely seen at banquets or in restaurants. The Xibe people of Xinjiang refer to this dish as a "whole sheep feast." According to the traditions of the Xibe people in Xinjiang…
Boiled Fish with Burgundy Sage is a signature dish of the Xibo ethnic group in the Ili River Valley, boasting a unique flavor that pairs exceptionally well with alcohol. It’s unclear whether Lin Zexu, who once lived in the valley, had the chance to taste this dish. But today, all visitors can enjoy it. Burgundy sage, a wild herb shaped like leaves, has...
Recently, “Chabucha’er Rice” was officially approved and registered by the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce; Chabucha’er County received the geographical indication certification trademark registration certificate for “Chabucha’er Rice.” The registration of “Chabucha’er Rice” marks the first geographical indication certification trademark in Chabucha’er County and even in Ili Prefecture. The registration of “Chabucha’er Rice”…
Copper Shama Wa is a traditional kettle used by the ethnic minority residents in Ili's farming and pastoral areas as well as urban communities to boil water. It is one of the essential items for ethnic minorities and also a popular product in the market. Ili City is an important production center for copper Shama Wa across the entire Xinjiang region. However, due to various reasons, its production was once interrupted. In 1974, it was revived when master craftsman Osman-Niyaz, who had over 30 years of experience in handicraft production…
The Ili horse has been renowned since over 2,000 years ago and was praised as the "Heavenly Horse" by Emperor Wu of Han. Today’s Ili horse is a cultivated and improved breed, and is one of China’s four major horse types. It is characterized by a robust build, agile beauty, and excellence in both riding and handling.…
Yili Tequ is produced in Xiaoerbulake, located in the Ili River Valley. The area’s spring water is crystal clear, cool, and rich in minerals—making it an exceptionally rare and excellent source for brewing fine liquor. The wine boasts a pure flavor, a refreshing and smooth taste, a mellow and sweet body, a rich aroma, and a long-lasting aftertaste. At the 4th International Wine Exposition held in Tokyo, Japan in 1992, Xinjiang’s Yili...
Xinyuan County is located in the northwest of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, at the eastern end of the Ili River Valley, and within the valley of the Gongnaisi River. It stretches eastward from Aikendaban Pass, borders Gongliu County and Hejing County to the south, and shares boundaries with Nileke County, Shawan County, and Hejing County to the northeast. Xinyuan County enjoys abundant rainfall, plentiful water resources, mild winters and cool summers, and lush vegetation. During the growing season, plants can receive sunlight for up to 16 hours a day. The green, pollution-free, and fertile land provides an ideal natural environment that is free from contamination and chemical hazards for crop cultivation.
Xinyuan County is located in the northwest of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, at the eastern end of the Ili River Valley, and in the valley of the Gongnaisi River. Xinjiang's Ili region boasts picturesque mountains and rivers, lush grasslands and forests, crystal-clear waters, and blue skies. Xinyuan County, in particular, has 8.34 million mu of high-quality natural grassland and is known as the "Pearl of the Grasslands." It is home to one of the world’s four major subalpine meadow steppes. Among them, the 5A-level Nalati Grassland, a natural scenic area, is called the "Grassland in the Sky"; it also has the world’s second-largest and Asia’s largest primeval wild fruit forest, as well as the largest surviving primeval apricot forest from the Middle Ages. It has been hailed by experts from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences as a natural treasure trove of nectariferous plants. Ili produces 40% of Xinjiang’s comb honey, making it the region with the highest comb honey yield in the country. Xinyuan County is part of Xinjiang’s Black Bee zone.