Yingxian is located in the northern part of Shanxi Province, boasting picturesque landscapes, a long history, rich culture, and a gathering of talented individuals. Known as the "Hometown of Dragons and Phoenixes and the Birthplace of Prime Ministers," it is recognized as a major cultural tourism county in Shanxi. In the past, when Yingxian was mentioned, the first thing that came to mind was the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, which is ranked alongside France’s Eiffel Tower and Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa as one of the “Three Great Towers of the World.”
Yingxian Diliu is made from cornmeal. It is a local snack with a distinctive flavor and high nutritional value. …
Knife-Cut Noodles Known as flying knife noodles due to the extraordinary knife skills and cutting techniques involved. A specially designed tile-shaped knife is used. The dough is kneaded into a cylinder over a foot long. When making the noodles, the cook stands in front of the pot, holding the dough in one hand and the knife in the other, slicing downward into the boiling water. The resulting noodles are triangular in cross-section, with uniform width and length. Skilled chefs can cut noodles so precisely that they “one falls into the pot, one floats mid-air, one just leaves the blade — each strand leaps like a fish.” These noodles are soft and smooth on the outside, airy inside, tender and easy to digest.
Yingxian Cold Noodles are made from potato starch. They are a local snack with a distinctive flavor. Vendors selling them can be found on the streets all year round. Especially in summer, cold noodle stalls are especially numerous and can be seen everywhere on the streets and alleys. Not only are Yingxian Cold Noodles widely available, but they also have a unique taste. Their characteristics are: first, they have a high water content (the weight ratio of starch to water is about one to ten), and they are soaked in cold water until just before being sold. Second, the production process is meticulous. Third, the seasoning is exquisite. Ingredients such as salt, soy sauce, chili, vinegar, sesame oil, monosodium glutamate, mustard, and scallions are all readily available, offering a full range of flavors. Served with finely shredded dried tofu, they are excellent in color, aroma, and taste.
Ying County wheat gluten noodles are made from refined white flour. They are a uniquely flavored local snack sold year-round by street vendors. In the summer, they can be found on nearly every street corner. Eating them in winter keeps you warm, in summer cools you down, in spring revitalizes you, and in autumn helps dispel dampness—truly a perfect, all-season,...
Youyu Specialty Oat Noodles: Due to its high altitude and cool climate, Youyu County provides the optimal environment for growing oats. The oats produced here are beautifully colored, fragrant, and rich in nutrients. Oat noodles are primarily made from oats through a refined process. They contain 1.6–2.2 times more protein than white flour, rice, or cornmeal, and 8.5% fat, which is also...
Steamed Zitui Cake, commonly known as steamed cake. Legend has it that this type of cake was created to commemorate Jie Zitui, a nobleman of the Jin State during the Cold Food Festival, and has a history of over 2,500 years. It is made by adding lard, sesame oil, chopped scallions, and seasoning powder to fermented flour dough, which is then steamed until cooked. …
Stewed Lamb is made by cutting freshly slaughtered lamb into chunks, adding an appropriate amount of salt and water, and simmering it covered for about an hour before serving. The meat is tender, richly flavored, succulent without being greasy, making it a delicious winter dish. …
Sugar cake is a long-standing traditional treat served to guests in Youyu. The method of making it is as follows: mix wheat flour, sesame oil, and a suitable amount of baking soda with water heated to about 70–80% of boiling temperature. Then, prepare a crispy layer by combining sesame oil, white flour, and sugar. Shape the dough into portions, roll them into thin pancakes, wrap in the crispy mixture, then roll out again to form cakes about 1 cm thick, and bake them over low heat. When eaten...
The roast pastry is also a traditional delicacy of Youyu. The method of making it is as follows: wheat flour is mixed with water at around 70–80% heat and left to rest. Then, minced pork, salt, soy sauce, green onions, ginger, monosodium glutamate, and an appropriate amount of hu oil are mixed evenly to make the filling. The rested dough is divided into portions, rolled into thin pancakes, the filling is wrapped inside, and then the pastry is cooked on a hot pan. The fire must be strong, and at the same time the pan is covered...
Crystal cake is a traditional flavored food from Youyu. The method of making it is as follows: mix wheat flour, lard, and an appropriate amount of baking soda evenly, then knead with water heated to about 70–80% temperature in winter or 50–60% in summer (similar to the consistency before frying dough sticks), let it rest for a while. Then grind peanuts, white sugar, candied fruit strips, rose petals, preserved fruits…
Located in Youyu, a national-level ecological zone in northwestern Shanxi known as "a green jade in summer and white jade in winter," bordering Inner Mongolia. The unique geographical and climatic conditions here have nurtured a rare local delicacy — Jade Sheep, one of China’s five major sheep breeds (Altay Sheep, Tan Sheep, Jade Sheep, Ujimqin Sheep, and Sunite Sheep), renowned across North China. …
Mixed Sugar Mooncakes, a long-standing traditional delicacy from Youyu, are made by combining white flour, white sugar (or brown sugar), and Hu oil in a ratio of 10:4:4. A suitable amount of baking powder or soda is added, and the mixture is kneaded with water heated to 50–60°C to form dough. The dough is portioned, rolled into slightly thick rounds, and baked. When eaten, they are...
Rich in aroma, tender in texture, with a perfect balance of fat and lean—succulent without being greasy, and delightful to the palate. The broth becomes clear and transparent when boiled, with a fragrant taste from the fat. Origin: Leveraging the county’s unique natural geographical conditions and abundant forest and grass resources, Right Yu County promotes an industrialized development model of “enterprise (cooperative) + base + farmer,” vigorously...
Right Yu County is the central production area of the renowned high-quality chicken breed in Shanxi, the Right Yu Border Chicken. The Right Yu Border Chicken is one of China’s famous premium chicken breeds. This breed grows quickly, has extremely tender and delicious meat, and is an excellent ingredient for preparing chicken dishes. Ingredient formula: 20 chickens, 30g Sichuan peppercorns, 15g star anise, 25g fennel seeds…
Youyu Bian Chicken is an excellent dual-purpose breed for both meat and eggs. As Youyu County is located at the foot of the Outer Great Wall, locals commonly refer to the Great Wall as the "border wall." Thus, this premium chicken breed that thrives at the foot of the Great Wall is called "Bian Chicken" (Border Chicken). The successful breeding of the Youyu Bian Chicken is closely related to the area's natural environment and local customs. Youyu County is the coldest part of the Datong Basin…
Right Yu Oatmeal is a specialty product of Youyu County, Shanxi Province. Oats (naked oats), also known as naked barley, commonly referred to as oil wheat or jade wheat, are a low-sugar, highly nutritious, and energy-rich food. Oatmeal is a green food made from carefully selected naked oats grown in the cold highland regions of northern China. Among the top ten healthiest foods listed by TIME magazine, oats rank fifth. …
The pie is also a traditional delicacy of Youyu. The method of making it is as follows: knead wheat flour with water heated to about 70–80% hotness, then let it rest. Next, mix minced pork, salt, soy sauce, scallions, ginger, monosodium glutamate, and an appropriate amount of hu oil to make the filling. Use the rested dough to form small portions, roll them into thin pancakes, wrap the filling inside, and bake them on a hot pan. The fire should be intense, and at the same time, cover the pan with a generous amount of hu oil to immerse the pie. It tastes rich, fragrant, and delicious.
Stir-fried Oats Noodles with Pickled Vegetables features crispy pickled vegetables and chewy oat noodles. It is a dish rich in the distinctive flavors of Shanxi Province and also a healthy choice. Oats are an annual herbaceous plant, and their nutritional content is more than seven times that of other types of flour, making them comparable to refined flour. Oats are highly nutritious, with an average protein content of…
【Core Production Area】 Around the Great Wall in Yu County, Shanxi Province 【Main Distribution Area】 Yu County, Shanxi Province, and the northern Shanxi region The Right Yu Chicken is large in size, with a heavy head, thick neck, sturdy legs, and a deep, broad chest and back. The hens have large, drooping bellies that are soft and elastic. The distance from the end of the sternum to the finger bones is about the width of a palm. Some have well-developed webbing between the toes, with stiff hairs on the outer sides of the metatarsus and toes. A small number of chickens exhibit five toes and relatively spread-out tail feathers that are stiff and curl upwards. The distance between the legs is wide, their movements are slow, and they have a gentle temperament. Their feather colors are mainly yellow-mottled, but also include black, white, and brown-mottled. The comb is of medium height, mostly single-combed, with some having a strawberry comb. The beak is short and slightly curved, mostly slate-colored. The shanks are mainly bluish, with some pink ones. The feathers are long, with slightly dense down, though not very tightly attached. They are highly adaptable, cold-resistant, and suitable for free-range rearing.