Walnut trees, also known as Juglans regia, belong to the Juglandaceae family. Varieties include wild mountain walnuts and artificially grafted, improved cultivars. Originally native to Central Asia, they are grown throughout China. Generally, improved cultivars are chosen for planting because they yield higher production, have thinner shells—commonly referred to as "soft-shelled walnuts"—compared to their wild counterparts. Wild…
The cake eaten by people in Fanshi is neither the glutinous rice cake consumed in southern China, nor the white flour cake blanched with boiling water favored in southern Shanxi. Instead, it is made from soft millet. As a local specialty of Fanshi, this cake is soft, smooth, and pleasant to the taste, with a fragrant aroma. It can be served as a staple food with either meat or vegetables, suitable for all ages, appropriate in all seasons, and nutritious enough to stave off hunger. There’s a local saying: “Fifty li on oat noodles, seventy li on cake, thirty li on buckwheat noodles and your waist gives out.” Moreover, since the word for “cake” (糕, gāo) sounds the same as “high” (高, gāo), it is not just a delicious food but also a symbol of good fortune. From birth — during the “third-day bath,” “full moon,” “hundredth-day celebration,” “school enrollment,” “moving to a new home,” “engagement,” “wedding,” “birthday,” “festivals,” “hosting guests,” and even “funerals” — cake is always involved. Cake weaves through the entire life of a person in Fanshi, illustrating its significant place in their daily lives. The people of Fanshi love cake, eat cake, and have developed countless ways to enjoy it, mastering it to perfection.
Mamaha, also known as mountain scallion flower, wild leek flower, bandit mahaha, picked mahaha, heavenly fragrance flower, cui mian flower, zha meng flower, bandit bandit mian, and tea mahaha. It is distributed in Inner Mongolia, the Northeast, and North China, growing wild on sunny slopes of mountains, blooming and seeding only in years with sufficient rainfall. Because it is wild, mahaha is natural, green, and rare...
Fanshi Tofu, commonly known as "water tofu," has a long history and is a traditional local-flavored side dish, famous for being white, fine, delicate, and tender. The people of Fanshi have a history of making tofu dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. They select premium soybeans or black beans (scientific name: Glycine max), soak them, grind them into soy milk, then coagulate the milk with brine, and finally press...
Fanshi Flaxseed Oil, also known as flax oil, is an ancient edible oil extracted from the seeds of the flax plant in the Linaceae family. Flax thrives in cold climates and is well-suited to grow in the high-altitude, arid regions of northwestern and northern China. The character “胡” (Hu) historically referred to ethnic minorities and regions in northwestern China, indicating that flax has been cultivated in cold areas since ancient times. Flaxseed oil, commonly referred to today as linseed oil, has a long history of consumption in China. It is known by various local names, such as Wang Oil, Lu Oil, and Hemp Oil.
Yuanping Guokui earned its name historically for being the best among local baked goods. It is block-shaped, about three inches long and an inch wide, with rolled edges and a perfectly round form. The unfilled version is called hollow Guokui, while filled ones have their own distinct names. Most commonly found in the market are sweet-filled Guokui, with the finest being the rose-filled variety. The surface of the Guokui has an orange-yellow hue and boasts a delicious flavor that is fragrant, sweet, crispy, and flaky...
Located in Nanzhuang Township, Dingxiang County, along the banks of the Fenyang River. Surrounded by four mountains and situated in a low-lying area, it enjoys a mild climate, abundant water sources, and fertile soil, creating a unique microclimate that makes it the only persimmon-producing region in the area. With over 60 years of cultivation history, the persimmons of Dongyu are best known for the Mopan variety. Besides being eaten fresh, they can be made into dried persimmons, persimmon cakes…
Dingxiang Melon is a specialty of Dingxiang County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. The melons produced in Dingxiang County feature thin skins, thick flesh, a sweet and crisp texture, juiciness, and a refreshing taste, making them highly popular among locals. Dingxiang Melon is a product protected under the Agricultural Geographic Indication (AGI) system. Dingxiang County is located on the eastern side of the Xinzhou-Dingxiang Basin, covering a total area of 865 square kilometers. It is surrounded by mountains on the north, east, and south, while the central and...
Yellow Baked Cake The Yellow Baked Cake is one of the local specialty foods of Dingxiang County, with a history of over 300 years. It is a solid, flat, round cake made from flour and baked in an oven. With a diameter of about three inches and a thickness of half an inch, the cake has an even thickness throughout. It is rich but not greasy, crispy but not hard, soft but not dense, sweet but not bland, chewy but not sticky. It boasts unique flavors that are fragrant, sweet, soft, and crisp,…
Dingxiang Buckwheat River Pull Noodles not only feature a clear, flavorful broth, rich aroma, and suitability for both hot and cold servings all year round, but also offer special health benefits such as stimulating the appetite, enhancing taste, nourishing the skin and darkening hair, clearing internal heat and relieving depression, strengthening the kidneys and spleen, among others. Since ancient times, it has been said to “make horses stop by the fragrance and drivers park by the taste,” attracting customers from near and far...
Chenjiaying Village in Dingxiang County has tapped into traditional techniques and carved out a distinctive path by crafting various handicrafts through weaving. The craft of making reed mats in Chenjiaying Village dates back over 600 years. In recent years, seizing the opportunity of the growing popularity of Wutai Mountain tourism and responding to market demand, the village has vigorously developed its weaving industry. Experts have been invited from Beijing…
Riverbank Clarified Mud InkstoneThe Riverbank Clarified Mud Inkstone is a type of clay inkstone meticulously developed in recent years based on historical records. It is made from the mud of the Hutuo River and undergoes more than ten intricate processes, including soil extraction, slurry preparation, mud filtering, mud clarifying, mold forming, drying, grinding, carving, firing, wax boiling, and polishing. This inkstone is sturdy and durable, resistant to freezing…
Nanzhuang Gai Persimmon Nanzhuang is located within Nanzhuang Township, Dingxiang County, on the banks of the Fuyang River. Surrounded by four mountains with a low-lying center, it enjoys a mild climate, abundant water sources, and fertile soil, creating a unique microclimate. It is the only persimmon-producing area in our region. The cultivation history here spans over 60 years. Persimmons from Dongyu are mainly known for their mopan (grinding-plate) variety. The area has a total of over...
Nan Zhuang Prickly Ash Nan Zhuang Prickly Ash differs from the small prickly ash commonly found in southeastern Shanxi. It has a thick skin, large size, and a distinctively rich flavor. The main varieties include Golden Pepper, Dahongpao, and Laoben Pepper. Nan Zhuang Prickly Ash boasts a pure, robust taste without any off-flavors. It is also easy to store and transport—once dried, its flavor remains unchanged for three to five years, making it a key ingredient in seasonings. In addition, it offers medicinal benefits such as warming the middle energizer, dispersing cold, and removing dampness…
Dingxiang Steamed Meat is a traditional delicacy with a history of over a thousand years. Originally a secret recipe from the imperial court, it was considered a rare treasure in historical palaces. Later, it spread to the public and became a celebrated dish at banquets. History: Dingxiang Steamed Meat has a history of over a thousand years, originally prepared using a secret imperial kitchen recipe and cherished as a delicacy in ancient courts. During the Jin Dynasty…
Hongdao Town, Xishe: Reed Mats.…
Heshan Town: Wen Mountain Inkstone.…
Shisi Township: Baitu.…
Origin: Yuanping County, Xinzhou Region, Shanxi Province. Produced in Yuanping County, Xinzhou Region. Yuanping is one of the well-known pear-producing areas in China. The main varieties of Yuanping Pears include Summer Pear: Autumn Skin Pear, Oil Pear, Perfume Pear, Yellow Pear, Talent Pear, and Sliced Pear. In addition, Crisp Pear has been widely cultivated over the past decade or so...
Sun-cured tobacco, commonly known as "Little Orchid," was widely popular before the prevalence of cigarettes. Many men, especially farmers, almost all smoked it. Even today, it remains beloved among farmers. Tongchuan sun-cured tobacco is well-known far and wide, but White Pagoda Ridge sun-cured tobacco is even more highly praised, as evidenced by this folk song: "Apricots from Dagou, dates from Shanxi, and when it comes to sun-cured tobacco, none compares to that of White Pagoda Ridge..." (Datong)