Datong copperware boasts a long history, exquisite craftsmanship, beautiful designs, and has long been renowned. Historically, there was a saying: "Worship at Mount Wutai, buy copperware in Datong." Datong copperware now includes 25 major series, 235 varieties, and 458 designs...
Datong lamb offal refers to the internal organs of a sheep, including the head, feet, heart, liver, lungs, intestines, and blood, which are cleaned, boiled, and chopped, then simmered in a broth seasoned with scallions, chili peppers, salt, and other spices. Because it contains a mix of various ingredients, it is called "offal." The soup often includes yam starch noodles, combining both meat and vegetables—rich yet not greasy, with a mellow...
The daylily, scientifically known as Hemerocallis, is commonly called golden needle vegetable. It is a highly nutritious vegetable. The "Classic of Nourishing Life" by Ji Kang and the "Shennong's Herbal Classic" record that "daylilies dispel worries and are a joy to eat." Li Shizhen also discussed them in detail in his *Compendium of Materia Medica*, noting their diuretic and stomach-strengthening properties. Datong County is one of the main production areas of daylilies in Shanxi Province...
Shaomai, a staple dish at banquets, is sometimes called shaomei. It gets its name from its resemblance to plum blossoms when it comes out of the steamer. The edges are snow-white, while the filling inside can be seen through the thin skin. One bite fills your mouth with juice, and chewing reveals a rich ball of meat. Legend has it that Emperor Zhengde of the Ming Dynasty once stayed overnight at an inn in Datong where he fancied the waitress Li Fengjie — stories such as his making her “Queen” in a farce titled “Plum Dragon Town” may or may not be true, but there’s no denying the worldwide fame of Datong shaomai.
It was originally called "Laojun’s Longevity Powder." By the mid-Ming Dynasty, Taoist alchemists and renowned physicians revised the formula and renamed it the "Tortoise-age Collection," which they presented to Emperor Jiajing, who was eagerly seeking elixirs of immortality across the land. After taking it, the emperor reportedly became lighter and more vigorous in health, and even fathered three more sons after the age of 50. Since then, the Tortoise-age Collection has been listed...
Buckwheat is a plant that thrives in cold climates and is only cultivated in the Datong region. Processed into buckwheat flour, it can be made into various forms such as noodles, pressed hele noodles, hand-pulled ge tuo, and bowl-shaped noodles. These can be served hot or cold. As it is a sugar-free food, it is also a delicious dish for people with diabetes. (Datong)…
Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi) is a specialty of the Yanbei region around Datong — a perennial herbaceous plant with a deep, long main root. The medicinal part is the root, which is usually harvested in spring and autumn. The Huangqi from Hengshan is straight, uniform, bright yellow in color, fine in fiber, and rich in starch — representing the authentic Chinese Huangqi. It is a bestseller in countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia. ...
Produced in Lingqiu, Shanxi. The *Book of the Later Han* records: One day, the famous physician Hua Tuo encountered a cart on which lay a patient suffering from a strange ailment — something seemed stuck in his throat, making it impossible to swallow food. After examining the patient, Hua Tuo told the family, “Go to an eatery and buy two sheng of garlic and some vinegar, then have the patient consume them.” After Hua Tuo left, not long after…
Main ingredients: 400g chicken eggs, auxiliary ingredients: 75g lean pork, 50g green pepper, seasonings: 25g light soy sauce, 2g cooking wine, 1g salt, 10g sesame oil, 15g white sugar, 1g monosodium glutamate, 12g starch (pea), 50g lard (refined), all to taste. How to make tiger-skin eggs: 1. Place 5 eggs in a pot of boiling water, bring to a strong boil…
Big Head Hemp Leaf is a traditional snack of Datong people, featuring distinct local characteristics. Many noodle shops and restaurants in Datong make and sell Big Head Hemp Leaf on the streets. Among them, those fried at the Gulou Delicatessen are the most popular among locals. The ingredients for making it include: flour 5 grams, maltose syrup 2 kilograms, salt 50 grams, fermented dough…
Records of coal carving artworks date back to China’s Eastern Han Dynasty. Discarded coal gangue stones, meticulously carved by local artist Shi Yuping from Datong, Shanxi, are transformed into lifelike artworks. Works such as the Yungang Grottoes Buddha, great leaders, and the Goddess Mazu resemble black-and-white photographs in their realism. Datong coal carvings…
The Datong region is rich in yam production. In addition to eating it directly, locals also have the habit of processing it into starch flour. This starch flour is then made into various foods, the most common being starch noodles and liangfen. Datong liangfen is available all year round, with a unique flavor, primarily seasoned with salt broth, soy sauce, chili oil, vinegar, sesame oil, monosodium glutamate, mustard, and scallions...
The production of ceramics in the Datong region boasts a history of over 1,400 years. Historical evidence from unearthed relics displayed at our city’s museum shows that the ceramic industry flourished during the Tang Dynasty, and during the Song Dynasty, “ceramic thunderbolts” were produced for military use.
The custom of making dough figurines originated in the late Yuan Dynasty. At that time, the people of the Datong region suffered greatly under ethnic oppression and frequently rose up against the Yuan rulers. As the rebel forces gradually grew in strength, they needed a way to secretly pass messages. On the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, households would exchange dough figurines, hiding pieces of paper inside them with messages informing others to stage an uprising on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. As a result, a local saying emerged in the region: “Give dough figurines on the 15th of July, rise up and slay the oppressors on the 15th of August.” After the Ming Dynasty unified China, people continued to give dough figurines on the 15th of July as a symbol of good fortune. After the liberation of Datong, the craftsmanship of dough figurines became increasingly refined—some were even colored. Many housewives took pleasure in intricately carving the figurines, using them as gifts to showcase their skill and artistry to friends and family, earning praise in return.
Bonsai art uses flowers, grasses, trees, plants, soil, sand, minerals, and stones as materials. Through meticulous carving and other artistic techniques, it recreates the beauty of nature, offering viewers a sense of high art and a美化 view of nature. The art of bonsai originated in the Jin Dynasty. In the *Book of Southern Qi* written by Xiao Yi of the Liang Dynasty during the Six Dynasties period, there is a record of “carving mountains and rocks”…
Yunsheng Gong and Drum, originally known as Desheng (Victory) Gong and Drum, originated in the area around Deshengkou, about forty kilometers north of Datong. Deshengkou was an important pass along the outer Great Wall of Datong and a key transportation route between Inner Mongolia and Shanxi. In ancient times, Datong was frequently a battleground, with armies marching to and returning from war through this very place. Each time the soldiers returned victorious, a respected elder would lead the local people in...
Youyu Aged Vinegar. Historical records show that vinegar workshops existed in Shanxi as early as 479 BC, particularly those in Qingxu County, which were the most renowned. Shanxi Aged Vinegar is not only an excellent condiment but also used in traditional medicine. The acetic acid it contains has antibacterial and bactericidal properties, especially effective against cocci. Using...
Made from sea buckthorn ingredients through a scientific formula, it has various health benefits such as aiding digestion, strengthening the stomach, relieving cough, calming the nerves, lowering blood pressure, reducing fatigue, inhibiting aging, fighting cancer, and promoting metabolism. It is a premium beverage and nourishing tonic. The sea buckthorn juice produced in Right Yu County (Shuozhou) uses fresh wild sea buckthorn fruit as raw material and employs an advanced...
This product is made from pure, fresh whole milk powder using advanced processing techniques. It has a slightly yellow color, a pure aroma, is convenient to prepare, dissolves well, and retains all the nutritional components of fresh milk. It is a national high-quality product (Shuozhou)...
It is a local delicacy in Ying County. Legend has it that during the mid-Qing Dynasty, a restaurant owner named Yu Yi in Ying County mixed wheat flour with maltose syrup, shaped it into small patties, and fried them in the same oil used for making fried dough twists. Later, he tried shaping them like beef kidneys.