Xiaoyi Wutong Chinese Yam is a specialty of Wutong Town, Xiaoyi City, Lüliang, Shanxi Province. With a long history of cultivation in Wutong Town, the yam is prized for its exceptionally white flesh, crisp texture, quick cooking time, high starch content, strong and unbreakable sticky strands, sweet and tender taste, and rich nutrition. It was once a long-standing imperial tribute and is commonly known as the “underground ginseng.” 2…
Fried glutinous cake is also a local delicacy of Xiaoyi. In particular, the bean paste fried glutinous cake and the crispy fried glutinous cake from Xiaoyi are excellent in color, aroma, and taste. They are soft yet chewy, sweet but not greasy, making them very delicious. Steaming the cake dough is the key to making good fried glutinous cakes. It must be steamed evenly without any undercooked parts; the dough’s firmness must be well controlled—too soft and it won’t hold together, too hard and it loses flavor. There are two main types of fried glutinous cakes in Xiaoyi: filled cakes and date slice cakes. Slicing the plain cake and then frying it produces what is called a date slice cake. Filled cakes come in two varieties: sweet bean paste filling and date & bean paste filling. At weddings and birthday banquets, a plate of fried glutinous cake is served before the main dishes, known as the celebration cake or longevity cake.
The stone biscuits of Xiaoyi have a unique flavor. Making these biscuits is a skill passed down through generations and is a specialty of the women in both urban and rural areas of Xiaoyi. During festivals and holidays, most households prepare some stone biscuits. Nowadays, there are also stalls in the city that make and sell them. Xiaoyi people often give stone biscuits as gifts to relatives and friends, and they are also commonly offered as presents during birthdays of the elderly or the full moon celebrations for babies. The main ingredients include wheat flour, sesame oil, salt, alkaline agents, and yeast, while the tools involve stones—specifically pebbles of uniform size, no larger than a thumb. Stone biscuits are a nutritious and health-promoting food, crispy at the first bite, easy to digest, and loved by all, suitable for people of all ages and genders.
Huoshao is a type of savory flatbread snack unique to Xiaoyi in our province, and comes in three varieties: savory huoshao, sweet huoshao, and vegetable huoshao. Savory huoshao is filled with salt and fennel, then cooked on a griddle. When served, it’s even more delicious if accompanied by chopped scallions, garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, salt, and MSG. Sweet huoshao is made by mixing old dough starter, alkaline flour, and cold water...
The large-scale cultivation and development of Xiaoyi’s specialty walnuts began only in recent years. The city's strategic approach to developing its walnut industry centers on deep processing and intensive management. To date, a number of mature, business-minded enterprises—such as Changyuan, Huamei, Tianyuan Sunshine, and Lvyu—have been established. Some of these companies are currently applying for green certification. In a short span of time, the walnut planting area in Xiaoyi has expanded from 60,000 mu in 1990 to 163,000 mu, with production increasing by 65%. Townships such as Yima, Ducun, ZhuPu, and Nanyang have gradually developed walnut cultivation and production processing into dominant local industries. This trend has significantly benefited farmers at the end of the industrial chain. It is reported that in these townships, the average household owns around 30 walnut trees, and per capita income has increased by over 1,100 yuan. This year, with a walnut planting area of 163,000 mu and a yield of 43.9 million tons, Xiaoyi has generated direct profits of 52.7 million yuan. These small walnuts have carved out a big market.
Xiasha Township, Xiaoyi City: Xiasha Tile Jar.…
Yi bauxite boasts unique quality, known for its high alumina content, high density, low iron, and low impurities. It has long been the preferred choice of foreign buyers and a premium raw material for refractory manufacturers across China. The product is distributed in 19 provinces and cities nationwide, including Henan, Tianjin, Wuhan, and Liaoning, and is exported to countries such as Japan, the United States, and Canada, enjoying the reputation of “white metallurgical coke” overseas.
Xiaoyi persimmon preserves come from plants of the Fagaceae family, genus Castanea, and are among the world’s more than ten main cultivated edible chestnut varieties. They are also one of the earliest economically utilized tree species in China. The method of making persimmons in Xiaoyi County involves first peeling the fruit, then placing it under the sun to dry. Once softened by the sun, it is repeatedly kneaded until even, sun-dried again, and this process is repeated multiple times before storing the fruit in large jars. In the following spring,…
Rice cake, also known as date cake, is made by mixing soft millet with water, grinding it into flour, steaming it, and then kneading it evenly. Cooked dates are layered and pressed into the dough, which is then cut into pieces along the length and served. …
Cowpea coins are made by boiling white cowpeas until half-cooked, then pounding them into small, round discs on a smooth stone slab or steel block using a small iron hammer. The resulting shape resembles ancient copper coins, hence the name "cowpea coins." They are cooked together with millet in millet rice or added to noodle soup, offering a unique flavor.…
Made with plain flour, sometimes mixed with mung bean or sorghum flour, the dough is mixed into a thin batter and placed in a bowl. Using sharpened chopsticks, the batter is scraped along the edge of the bowl into the pot, forming irregular strips that are easy to digest. …
Xiaoyi prickly ash can be planted alone or used as a protective thorny hedge. Its peel serves as a seasoning and can be extracted for aromatic oil, used medicinally, while the seeds are edible and can also be processed to make soap. Suitable for most people, but pregnant women and those with yin deficiency and excessive internal heat should avoid it. Prickly ash flowers on a deciduous shrub or small tree, 3–7 meters tall, with a stem that...
Willow Grove Bowl Tofu
Apricot preserves—visually appealing, sweet and tangy, offering a perfect combination of color, aroma, and taste. They retain the natural color and nutrients of fresh apricots, and are known to promote saliva production and relieve thirst, as well as help remove internal heat and toxins. The production of dried apricots began in the Qing Dynasty, with major production areas in Korla and Aksu, Xinjiang. Locally distinctive small white apricots and large white apricots are used as raw materials, and are processed through steps such as cleaning, stone removal...
Sesame cakes can be eaten either hot or cold. When served hot, they are fragrant, crispy, delicious, and have a chewy texture. Once cooled, they can serve as a dry ration—easy to carry and capable of long-term storage. Since sesame is mild in nature and aids digestion, regular consumption of sesame cakes offers excellent health benefits and therapeutic effects for those with chronic stomach conditions.…
Jujube Pear is a rare, precious, and unique variety among jujube trees. Its main characteristics are its exceptionally large fruit, which is oval or spherical in shape, weighing around 25 grams per fruit, with some reaching up to 50 grams. The color ranges from light red to withered yellow, and the fruit resembles a pear in appearance. It has thin skin, thick flesh, abundant juice, a fragrant aroma, and a sweet, crisp taste. Jujube Pear trees are generally small in size, and often…
The advantages of Liulin jujube are: small pit, thick flesh, high sugar content, good storability, and easy transportation. When fresh, Liulin jujubes are sweet with a hint of acidity, fragrant and crisp, making them delicious to eat. Once dried, the flesh becomes oil-rich, with long, shiny sugar threads, and the taste becomes even sweeter. The main production area of Liulin jujube is Sanjiao Township along the Yellow River. This area is located in a canyon region, with low altitude, strong sunlight, and significant diurnal...
The world-renowned Liulin Yellow River Beach Jujubes grow along the banks of the Yellow River and have a cultivation history of 2,500 years. Abundant sunshine, suitable temperatures, and clean air provide the optimal growing environment for these jujubes. They have been cultivated here for over 1,300 years, and legend has it that the ancient jujube tree where Li Zicheng once tied his war horse still stands to this day...
Dough sculpture, as the name suggests, is a folk steamed food made from dough that is artistically shaped and beautified. Xiaoyi’s dough sculpture, commonly known as "flour flowers," is not only a delicious and fragrant food, but also an essential part of all major annual festivals, serving as a bond that connects the people of Xiaoyi. During festivals or events such as weddings and birthdays...
Xiaoyi is rich in buckwheat production, so buckwheat blood sausage bowl tofu has naturally become a nutritious and delicious dish on the tables of Xiaoyi locals. Bowl tofu can be eaten cold or hot. When served cold, the tofu is cut into pieces and mixed with over ten seasonings such as mashed garlic, ground sesame paste, small-mill sesame oil, chopped scallions, chili sauce, salt, vinegar, etc. Once you take a bite, the rich aroma fills your mouth…