A famous dish from northern Shanxi, made by mashing potatoes and oat flour into a paste, then mixing with water (a small amount of starch can be added for chewiness). The batter is scooped onto a "mianchuangzi" (a special press), and with the right hand holding a "mianzi" (pressing tool), it is squeezed out into short sections called mibagu'er. These are boiled for about a minute, then scooped out. Seasonings can be added according to personal preference (such as salt, scallions, Sichuan peppercorns, chili peppers, cilantro, and zaizaomian...
Li Shizhen’s *Compendium of Materia Medica* states: “Lamb can warm the middle, nourish deficiency, replenish qi, stimulate appetite, strengthen the body, benefit kidney qi, nourish gallbladder and improve vision, and treat deficiency fatigue, coldness, and the five strains and seven impairments.” Datong lamb is renowned nationwide for its fragrant taste, tender meat, fresh quality, and beautiful appearance. The meat is clean in quality, bright in color, with a mix of red and white, and pleasing to the eye…
Roast lamb ribs from Datong is a renowned dish often served to honored guests. Roast lamb leg evolved from the tradition of roasting a whole lamb. Legend has it that the hunting and nomadic peoples living across the vast lands of northern China would often roast entire game animals or whole lambs by the campfire. Over time, people discovered that the most flavorful part of the lamb is the hind leg, so they began cutting it off to roast separately...
The Datong Zhang Family Origami Art is an intangible cultural heritage protection project of Shanxi Province. It is a folk handicraft technique passed down through the Zhang family for over a hundred years, belonging to the category of folk art.
Coal carving is a unique craft art in China, originating from Datong. Using fossilized wood from deep within Datong’s coal seams as raw material, Datong coal carvings are meticulously polished. The works feature clear textures and fine stone quality, truly bringing artistic life to coal. Records of coal carving can be traced back to the Eastern Han Dynasty of China. Discarded coal gangue, under the skilled hands of artisans in Shanxi...
A local specialty, commonly known as "suan liu liu" (sour little thing), is a perennial wild deciduous shrub. Its oval-shaped fruits turn orange-yellow or red when ripe and have a pleasantly sour taste. Every lunar September, when most plants wither in the vast coalfields, only the sea buckthorn thrives, bearing abundant fruit like strings of red pearls dotting the hillsides and slopes. …
Yanggao County Arts and Crafts Factory produces dozens of antique-style vases, wall hangings, and human-shaped table lamps made from "artificial stone" using natural stone powder and resin as raw materials, through processes such as casting and baking. In 1992, the products won the Gold Award for Quality Products in Shanxi Province and the Silver Award at an expo held in Beijing. The products feature novel designs,...
The "Three Yellows and Two Whites" are renowned local specialties of Datong in Shanxi Province: Huangqi (Astragalus) from Hunyuan, Daylilies from Datong, "Inside and Outside Yellow" potatoes from Tianzhen, as well as White Flax from Guangling and Round Cabbage from Yanggao. Huangqi is a precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb known for its tonifying and qi-invigorating effects…
Millet is ground into yellow rice, which is then milled into flour to make yellow rice flour. The yellow rice cake made from this flour boasts four key characteristics: yellow color, soft texture, chewiness, and a fragrant aroma. There are two main ways to eat it: either as "plain cake" or as "fried cake." The fried cake is more elaborate—Datong’s fried cakes are known for being small in size, thin-skinned, and diverse in variety...
Knife-cut noodles are a daily favorite among the people of Shanxi, renowned both in China and abroad for their unique flavor. These noodles are made entirely by knife, hence the name. The noodle slices cut from the dough are thick in the middle and thin at the edges, with sharp, defined edges, resembling willow leaves. When eaten, they are smooth on the outside and chewy on the inside, soft yet not sticky, and grow more flavorful the more you chew—making them especially popular among noodle lovers. Along with Beijing’s zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste),…
The Xiahan Village in Hunyuan County is known for producing clay pots, a tradition said to date back to the Ming Dynasty. In the 15th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty (1835), Governor Su Yu-mei of Hedong Circuit brought these pots to the imperial court, where they earned the praise of Emperor Daoguang. Since then, Xiahan clay pots have gained fame across the Northeast, Hebei, Shaanxi, and Inner Mongolia regions. The notable features of Xiahan clay pots include their heat resistance…
Oatmeal Roast Loaf is a popular local delicacy enjoyed by people in Datong and the northern Yan region. Made from steamed oatmeal, it is served with mutton toppings and a variety of seasonings, offering a rich and lingering aroma that is easy on the digestion. This is largely due to the abundant production of oatmeal in the Datong and northern Yan areas. (Datong)…
First, millet is ground into yellow rice, which is then milled into flour to make yellow rice flour. Cakes made from this flour are known as yellow rice cakes, which have four main characteristics: “yellow, soft, chewy, and fragrant.” There are two ways to eat them: one is “plain cake,” and the other is “fried cake.” The “plain cake” is…
The Datong region is rich in yams. In addition to eating them directly, locals also have the habit of processing them into starch flour. This starch flour is then used to make various foods, the most common being noodles and cold noodles. In summer, cold noodles become a refreshing dish enjoyed by every household. Datong cold noodles are available all year round and have a unique flavor, primarily seasoned with salt broth…
Xiahan Pottery is a type of northern ceramic made primarily from natural stone ore. During the Qing Dynasty, it was presented as tribute to the imperial palace, gaining fame throughout the land. Its distinctive features include slow preheating and slow cooling. Rice cooked in it has a pure, sweet flavor; meat stewed in it yields a rich, aromatic broth; and herbs simmered in it retain their full potency with gentle, even heat. Currently developed products include…
Yun Gang Beer is a local specialty of Datong City, produced by the Datong Brewery. In 1987, both Yun Gang Beer and Special Yun Gang Beer were awarded the title of Shanxi Provincial Quality Products and became bestsellers in Beijing, Hebei, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, and other provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. Datong is a famous historic city. During the Qin Dynasty, it was known as “...
It is said to have originated in the Ming Dynasty. In the 15th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1835), Sulei Mei, the Governor-General of Hedong Circuit, brought this item to the imperial court and received praise from Emperor Daoguang. Since then, Xiahan clay pots have become famous in the Northeast, Hebei, Shaanxi, and Inner Mongolia regions. The characteristics of Xiahan clay pots are: fire-resistant, collision-resistant, unaffected by acids or alkalis, smooth inside and out, and...
Douquan Township is located in the northern part of Guangling County. The main crops include millet, broomcorn, beans, potatoes, sunflower seeds, and some minor grains. The primary cash crop is apricot kernels, with over 6,000 acres of apricot kernel trees planted across the township, some of which have already begun to bear fruit, indicating promising prospects for apricot kernel production. In recent years, Douquan Township has focused on developing apricot kernel cultivation...
Guangling Huamei Donkey is one of China’s top-quality donkey breeds. It is a large-sized donkey. Recognized as one of China’s Four Famous Donkeys, the Guangling Huamei Donkey is renowned nationwide for its tall stature, sturdy bones, ability to endure coarse feed, strength in pulling and carrying loads, and its distinctive “five whites and one black” appearance. It has been included in the first national list of livestock and poultry genetic resources conservation and protection zones. Its meat is...
Guangling Dou Shan almonds are recognized as one of the Three Treasures of Shanxi specialties (the Three Treasures of Shanxi: almonds, walnuts, and jujubes). The land of Guangling has historically been known as a “gold-scraping board,” and its almonds have long enjoyed a prestigious reputation. What sets them apart from ordinary almonds is that Guangling is located at the northern end of the Taihang Mountains, on the eastern foothills of the Heng Mountains, along the 39th parallel north (commonly referred to as the golden line for apricot fruit growth)…