"Carved Flower Porcelain" is a treasure among traditional Chinese ceramics. It is made entirely by hand using a knife as a brush. The patterns are carved into the unfired clay body in one continuous motion, resulting in smooth lines and simplified yet expressive forms. The technique showcases an unpretentious and naturally intimate charm, highlighting the inherent beauty of the ceramic material, the skill involved in the decoration process, the minimalist elegance of the exterior form…
Also known as locust flower honey or simply locust honey, it is one of the four famous types of honey in China (locust, jujube, pagoda tree, and lychee). It is also one of the most reliably harvested major nectar sources in the country. Around the beginning of autumn, when the weather is crisp and clear, bees flit among the locust blossoms, collecting floral nectar to produce this honey. With a light amber color and a lingering fragrance...
Pingding Cucumber Dried mainly comes from Hougou and Hetou, two villages in Pingding County. Production began during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1398). It is favored for being crisp, refreshing, richly aromatic, flavorful, and convenient to eat. During the Qing Dynasty, it was designated as an item for imperial tribute and earned the reputation of “Dragon Tendon.” The dried cucumber is made from high-quality, spineless, seedless young cucumbers, rich in essential vitamins, potassium salts, amino acids, carbohydrates, and other nutrients. It aids digestion and helps lower cholesterol. In addition to meeting local demand, Pingding Cucumber is also sold to cities such as Beijing and Tianjin. Pingding’s dried cucumbers, along with its ceramic and ironware products, enjoy fame both at home and abroad. In ancient times, there was a saying: “Dried cucumbers as tribute, dragon-patterned sand pots delighting the emperor’s heart.”
Ramen, also known as stretched noodles, is a distinctive local noodle dish popular in both urban and rural areas of Shanxi. Legend has it that ramen originated in the Fushan area of China’s Jiaodong Peninsula in Shandong Province, hence it was once called “Fushan Ramen.” When ramen was introduced to the capital, it won the emperor’s praise and was bestowed the name “Dragon Whisker Noodles,” thus becoming a staple in the imperial kitchen. As for when ramen was introduced to Shanxi or whether it originated there natively, there is no definitive evidence. However, the Shanxi people’s skill in making ramen and their widespread fondness for eating it are unmatched elsewhere. To this day, in central and northern Shanxi, it remains a traditional custom to serve ramen to guests during weddings and to celebrate birthdays with it.
Alpine Anemone, also known as: Double-Bottle Chrysanthemum in Chrysanthemum Shape. A perennial herb. The rhizome is brownish-yellow, with numerous fine roots and traces of scales. The stem is erect, reaching 8–26 cm in height. The basal leaves are biternate compound leaves, with petioles about 13 cm long; the leaflets are oblong to ovate, tapering to a point, usually with the middle leaflet…
The production base of Xihui Millet is located in the central part of the Taihang Mountains, where crops enjoy a long growth period and significant diurnal temperature variations. The planting soil is brown earth with high fertility, regularly enriched with farmyard manure, resulting in good granular structure. Water supply mainly comes from natural rainwater collected in dry wells. The base and its surrounding areas are free from sources of “three wastes” pollution, ensuring a sound ecological environment. Xihui Village in Yangquan, Shanxi Province, is situated…
A famous dish from Pingding County in Yangquan City: glass noodles with shredded tofu. The main ingredients are glass noodles and fried shredded tofu. The dish features crispy yet tender shredded tofu. It looks mild and unassuming, not giving off the impression of being a hot dish at all, but it’s scalding hot when eaten. Therefore, authentic restaurants will often say, “We make the genuine, non-steaming version of this classic dish…”
Dried cucumber is a traditional specialty of Pingding County. As early as over 500 years ago, it became an indispensable appetizer at local banquets. This type of dried cucumber boasts tender, emerald-green skin and flesh, with a smooth, wrinkle-free surface. When eaten, it is crisp, sweet, fragrant, and delicious. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty personally inscribed the words “Dragon Tendon” for it, and it was designated as an imperial tribute...
Alpine anemone, also known as: chrysanthemum-shaped double vase plum. A perennial herb. The rhizome is brownish-yellow with numerous fine roots and scale scars. The stem is erect, reaching 8–26 cm in height. The basal leaves are biternate compound leaves, with petioles about 13 cm long; the leaflets are oblong to obovate, tapering to a point, usually with the middle leaflet being larger and having a short…
It’s made from pork skin gelatin. “Jun” means to cool and solidify. It’s often made during the winter New Year season. When eating, add some scallions, ginger, and garlic, then dip it in aged vinegar.…
Crispy flatbread slices, also known as dried flatbread (fragrant flatbread slices), are a popular snack food made primarily from flour, yeast, and water, with additional ingredients such as milk powder, salt, sugar, palm oil, and eggs. They are produced through fermentation, steaming, and baking (or frying), resulting in a nutritious, crispy, flavorful, and visually appealing treat that is suitable for all ages. Crispy flatbread slices can…
Pingding has been producing ceramics since the Tang and Song dynasties. Over the centuries, its production techniques have been continuously refined. During the Republican era, local resources were used to produce purple clay pottery, which was innovatively developed based on traditional craftsmanship. The pottery produced by the civilian factory at that time, including purple clay ware and other ceramics, enjoyed widespread acclaim across northern China. In the 1960s, the artistic ceramics produced by the Pingding Porcelain Factory received praise at the Canton Fair and were exported to more than ten countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, France, Japan, and Hong Kong. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Pingding Ceramic Factory was manufacturing brown-glazed dragon-patterned cups and saucers, brown-glazed coffee-colored tea sets, coiled dragon vases, black-glazed floral vases with twining peony patterns inspired by the Song dynasty, and carved vases with scrolling vine patterns—all of which held significant artistic and ornamental value. Among them, the brown-glazed ceramics featured lustrous and bright tones, while the black-glazed pieces showcased bold contrasts between black and white with flaked designs. The craftsmanship was extremely refined, with an annual export volume exceeding four million pieces.
Main ingredient: potatoes. Ingredients: Sichuan peppercorn, star anise, ginger, sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, old scallion, garlic cloves, cola, sesame, cumin, soy sauce, etc. How to make stewed potatoes: 1. Wash fresh small potatoes without peeling them. 2. Add water to a pot, put in the potatoes, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes. Remove and drain the water...
Ballon Flower Root: Nationally Renowned. As a long-established traditional Chinese medicinal herb from Yu County, this rustic herbal medicine known as Yu Ballon Flower Root is becoming increasingly well-known. Ballon flower root, also called White Medicine, Monk's Head, Bellflower, or Wild Ginseng, is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows wild on hillsides and in grasslands. It is both a traditional Chinese medicine...
Yuxian peppercorns have been cultivated for over a thousand years. The main varieties include Dahongpao, Xiaohongpao, and Huangjinjiao. They are known for their bright color, red exterior with yellow interior, and fragrant aroma, which locals call "fragrance that spreads ten miles." There are currently 550,000 fruit-bearing pepper trees in the county, yielding 350,000 kilograms annually, with wide sales across the country. Yangquan peppercorns are predominantly produced in the northern part of Yuxian...
Founded during the Guangxu era, it initially started when Dai Dacheng, a native of Hechuan, opened the Dacheng Sauce Workshop on Wai Xiaoyi Street, producing “Kouma Soy Sauce.” Soon after, Zou Fuchen from Jiangbei set up the Minliquan Sauce Workshop at Sanbuti outside the North Gate, producing “Treasure-Grade Soy Sauce.” At that time, Dai Dacheng’s soy sauce was considered the best. In the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, a folk saying circulated in Sichuan: …
Bean Flour Mian Gen Gu Dou is a common folk noodle dish from Yu County. Varieties include cornmeal Mian Gen Gu Dou, wheat flour Mian Gen Gu Dou, red flour (sorghum flour) Mian Gen Gu Dou, and bean flour Mian Gen Gu Dou. With growing health awareness, it has evolved into a distinctive snack served in restaurants of all sizes, becoming one of the trendiest noodle dishes. The flavor of Bean Flour Mian Gen Gu Dou is especially enhanced when paired with delicious toppings...
Jujube Cake is practically a household name among the people of Yu County. For major events like weddings, no family’s dining table would be complete without this dish!
Prickly Ash Leaf Dumplings are a specialty of Yu County, Yangquan, Shanxi. Preparation: Mix prickly ash leaves, cornmeal, and salt into dough, shape into balls, steam them in a pot, and they’re done once out of the steamer...
A cereal crop. Its scientific name is naked oats. Depending on the sowing time, it is divided into summer-sown oats and autumn-sown oats. Oat grains are slender with a ventral groove and covered in fine hairs, especially prominent at the top. They are cylindrical or spindle-shaped. Oats are a highly nutritious grain crop, boasting the highest protein content among cereals and containing all eight essential amino acids required by the human body, with a relatively balanced composition. Due to their high nutritional value, ability to combat hunger, and resistance to cold, oats are regarded as a precious resource in the western part of the autonomous region. Summer oats contain less sugar but more protein, making them a good food choice for diabetics. Additionally, their fat contains a higher proportion of linoleic acid, which makes them a therapeutic food commonly used by the elderly. Coupled with the unique soil and water advantages of Yu County, it is the only place where oat flour can be made into oat bars. Once prepared, these bars can be stir-fried, steamed, boiled, or mixed—each method yielding a delicious and premium dish.