Baode County is rich in buckwheat production. The buckwheat bowl tofu made here is crystal-clear and shiny in appearance, with a faintly greenish white color. It has a delicate texture, is soft, smooth, tender, fragrant, refreshing, and has a unique flavor, making it one of the finest local snacks in the Xinzhou area. The method of making bowl tofu involves mixing refined buckwheat flour with salted water to form dough strands, then adding water to create a paste-like consistency. This mixture is poured into bowls and steamed quickly…
Baode Oil Jujube: The Baode Oil Jujube is grown in natural gullies and valleys along the Yellow River. These areas enjoy strong sunlight, low rainfall, high temperatures, and very dry conditions, all of which are conducive to the growth of oil jujubes. Historical records indicate that jujube trees have been cultivated in Baode County for 1,100 years. Legend has it that when Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty passed through Baode during an inspection tour, he tasted red dates in Niánpan’er, Fengjiachuan…
Shenchi Fried Dough Twists are one of the famous snacks from the Wutai Mountain area, long renowned in the food industry and celebrated across northern China. The ingredients include three parts fermented fat, two and a half parts water, half a part oil, and a small amount of sugar and alkali. When frying, use clear and clean hu oil (a type of vegetable oil), ensuring it doesn’t foam or produce excessive smoke. Shenchi Fried Dough Twists look vibrant and appetizing, emit a rich fragrance when smelled, and taste crispy...
Jingle Silver Plate Mushrooms. Jingle Silver Plate Mushrooms are among the finest of Jingle’s wild edible mushrooms. They grow in the deep mountain forests of Guancen Mountain, Golden Mountain, Caomao Mountain, and Wanhuashan, all at altitudes above 2,000 meters, in a completely unpolluted environment. They are crisp in texture, delicious in taste, and rich in nutrients. These mushrooms help prevent aging, resist diseases…
Daylily Flowers from Jingle The daylily flowers processed by the Local Specialty Development Center of Jingle County are brightly colored, pure, clean, and of extremely high quality. They come in exquisite packaging, making them one of the local gift options as well as a local mountain delicacy. …
Jingle Flaxseed Oil is a specialty of Jingle County in Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. With its unique flavor, rich aroma, and clear oil texture, flaxseed oil is a premium edible oil that, when consumed regularly, offers anti-aging, beautifying, and health-enhancing benefits. Flaxseed oil has a long history of consumption in China and is known by many folk names, such as Wang Oil, Lu Oil, and Hemp Oil. Flax...
Beef kidney, also known as bovine kidney. It is the kidney of cattle such as yellow cattle or water buffalo from the Bovidae family. Nutritional value: Beef kidney is rich in protein, vitamin A, B vitamins, niacin, iron, selenium, and other nutrients; it has the effects of nourishing kidney qi and enriching essence. Suitable for: Generally suitable for most people. 1. Suitable for those with kidney yang deficiency, marrow depletion, …
Jingle is rich in the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Ophiopogon and is known as the “Hometown of Ophiopogon.” The Ophiopogon from Jingle has a long history, featuring bright red color and plump stamens, and is of top quality. Due to the large temperature variations and abundant springs in the area, wild Ophiopogon grows throughout the county. It is common for locals to use snowmelt to decoct Ophiopogon for relieving coughs. …
Xinzhou is known as the "Hometown of Sorghum." Not only does Xinzhou have a long history of sorghum cultivation, but it also covers a large planting area. The sorghum here is characterized by large grains, uniform size, bright color, thin skin, good palatability, and high nutritional value. Sorghum is one of the staple foods favored by the people of Xinzhou, and Xinzhou sorghum flour is famous for being white, fine, and refined. The preparation method: first boil the sorghum with hot water...
Oatmeal is made from processed and ground oats, and is one of the main staple crops in the Xinzhou region. Oatmeal is highly nutritious, containing considerable amounts of calcium, phosphorus, iron, and riboflavin. To make oatmeal rolls, the oatmeal is mixed with an equal amount of boiling or cold water. Using the palm of your hand, you press a piece onto a smooth board, then use your index finger...
Lotus Beans Shenchi Lotus Beans are primarily made from fava beans and locally produced hu oil. The preparation method: select high-quality fava beans, soak them in clean water until they are soft and free of hard cores, then remove them. Make a “+” incision on the top of each bean with a small knife, then deep-fry them in hot oil. Each bean bursts open along the cut lines, with a yellow skin and white flesh, resembling little blooming lotus flowers. Then…
Stewed Lamb
Specialty Minor Grain Foods Shenchi minor grains are renowned for their high altitude cultivation, large temperature variations, pollution-free environment, and premium quality. Traditional snacks made from these minor grains attract visitors from all over. Especially for those who have lived in cities for a long time, these authentic rural home-cooked meals are truly captivating. The main offerings include oatmeal sandwiches, oatmeal steamed buns, bean flour noodles...
Shenchi Black Beans are produced in Shenchi County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province, and have a long history of cultivation. Historical records indicate that black beans were the main crop used for public grain contributions in Shenchi County, with an annual yield of around 100,000 jin. According to the *Shenchi County Annals*, the planting area of Shenchi Black Beans was 28,830 mu in 1975, 16,28…
Shenchi millet is a specialty of Shenchi County in Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. It is a nationally protected geographical indication agricultural product. Produced in Shenchi County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province, Shenchi millet has a long history of cultivation. The unique natural conditions of Shenchi County—characterized by high altitude, cold climate, and strong winds with sandy conditions—are very suitable for the growth of millet. Millet is sticky in nature and is commonly used…
Pumpkins, pumpkins — over 30,000 mu of pumpkins are planted here annually. The main varieties include Hongmi, Fushun Sweet Chestnut, and Short-Vine Honey Crown, distributed across Bajiao Town, Changzhen Township, and Hezhi Township, with an annual sales volume of about 35,000 tons. The unique climate conditions result in high active sugar content and a soft, sweet taste. Lab tests show: pumpkin sugar content is 4%, and every 100…
Shenchi is a traditional agricultural and pastoral interlaced area, boasting naturally superior conditions for developing the lamb industry. In recent years, based on local realities, we have vigorously implemented the strategic adjustment of the agricultural structure through “returning farmland to grassland and raising livestock in pens for increased income.” We have adopted moderate household breeding models such as “5+3” and “6+1,” as well as intensive breeding in standardized farming communities, leading to rapid development of the lamb industry. Currently, the county has 300,000 mu of artificially planted grass, 510,000 sheep, 110 demonstration villages for scaled breeding, 5,200 demonstration households for pen-fed breeding, 35 standardized breeding communities, and animal husbandry income accounts for over 60% of per capita rural income. The “lamb industry” has become a leading sector in boosting farmers’ income and prosperity.
Shenchi County is located on the Loess Plateau in northwestern Shanxi, characterized by a continental monsoon climate. Its main features include strong winds, low temperatures, arid conditions, short frost-free periods, large diurnal temperature variations, and abundant sunlight. Geographic characteristics: the production area is distributed across vast hilly regions, high mountains, and mid-to-low-altitude rocky mountainous areas, at an elevation range of 1,600–1,800 meters. Soil types: mainly…
Oats originated in the high-altitude mountainous regions of North China, and Shenchi County in Shanxi Province may be one of the earliest birthplaces of oats. To this day, Shenchi oats are widely renowned, hence earning the title of the hometown of oats. Around the 9th century BC, oats were introduced from Shanxi to Inner Mongolia and gradually spread across the mountainous, hilly, and some plain areas of northern China. Later, as people's understanding of oats deepened, they were cultivated throughout the country. Eventually, Chinese oats were introduced and grown in countries such as Russia, the United States, and Chile.
“Shenchi Flaxseed Oil” refers to the edible oil pressed from flaxseeds grown in Shenchi County, Shanxi Province. The Chronicles of Chinese Industries: Shanxi Volume records that the oil pressing industry in Shenchi began around 1488 (during the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty). The Book of Mashi Agriculture by Qi Junzao, Minister of War during the Qing Tongzhi era, mentions “oil from Shenchi” and describes it as having...