One of the "Three Treasures of Yuci," tofu pudding has remained popular for centuries and continues to be loved by many. What makes Yuci tofu pudding unique lies in its thick sauce. During the Qing Dynasty, Bai Haima from Xiaodongguan in Yuci became well-known for making tofu pudding. Bai Haima’s tofu pudding was made using “three pots.” The large copper pot contained...
Fish-Mutton Buns are hailed as a Chinese delicacy created by the power of a single Chinese character. These buns are made from a meat filling that combines fresh fish, fresh mutton, family-secret broth, and a variety of seasonings. With a unique pairing of ingredients, balanced nutrition, exquisite preparation, delicious taste, thin wrappers, and tender fillings, they are one of Yuci’s many specialties and snacks.
Jiexiu deer antler holds a significant position in traditional Chinese medicine. It is classified as a tonic herb, used to nourish kidney meridians, strengthen primordial yang, generate essence, and fortify bones and tendons. It is primarily indicated for conditions such as deficiency of primordial yang, aversion to cold and weakness, flaccidity in the limbs, kidney yang insufficiency, nocturnal emission and frequent urination, erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, dizziness and blurred vision, soreness and pain in the lower back and knees, congenital weakness, and uterine bleeding or leukorrhea. …
Rose-flavored Yellow Wine…
Chinese medicinal herb Wu Ling Zhi…
Xianheng Tong Huangjiu…
An ancient poem reads: “After spring rains fall in fine drizzle, fair ladies rejoice at the first clear noon. None surpasses the pure white silver strip vegetable—not even jade tablets or crystal pots.” The poem refers to the silver strip vegetable, a rare delicacy among vegetables that is only produced in Jiexiu and hailed as one of the “Eight Treasures” of Jiexiu County. The silver strip vegetable is a perennial herbaceous plant with slender, upright stems,...
Jiexiu Guanxian Sugar has a long production history. Rich in nutrients, it is as renowned as Zhejiang’s famous “Cunmian Sugar.” It features a thin skin, fragrant filling, pleasant aroma, and delicious taste. Its main ingredient is maltose syrup, which is made by saccharifying sprouted barley and millet, giving it warming lung and kidney benefits...
The ceramic industry is a traditional product sector in Hongshan Village, Jiexiu. Historically, Hongshan was known as the "Pottery Village." According to historical records, the Hongshan porcelain kilns were first built during the Zhenyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, boasting a history of over a thousand years. The Yuan Shen Spring water and the local Hongshan clay provide naturally superior materials for ceramic production. Experts have verified that the ceramics produced at the time were comparable to...
Deshengyuan "Tounao" "Tounao" is a seasonal, nourishing and nutritious snack. The version from Yuci is said to be the earliest, and it is believed to have been made based on the recipe and method of the "Eight-Treasure Soup" created by the famous late Ming and early Qing scholar Fu Shan from Shanxi. In Yuci, there is an ancient temple on Nanmadao Street called "Dacheng Temple," which houses a scripture depository. Folklore says that after the completion of the scripture depository, Fu Shan and his mother lived there for some time. During their stay, due to his mother’s advanced age and frail health, and out of filial piety, Fu Shan developed a "Four-Ingredient Soup"—also known as "Tounao"—for her to drink every morning. It was later refined and expanded to include four more ingredients, making a total of eight—commonly referred to as the "Eight-Treasure Soup." It later spread among the public and became a beloved tonic food. During the Qing Dynasty, several shops in Yuci sold "Tounao," among which Deshengyuan on Yamen Street was the most famous. Comparable to Taiyuan's offerings, Deshengyuan's version uses astragalus root, yellow wine lees, stewed noodles, and galangal as its main ingredients, with pickled Chinese chives as an accompaniment. It is typically eaten with wheat-based snacks such as "Xiaomai" and "Maobox" and features characteristics of being soft, smooth, fragrant, sweet, and warm. Moreover, it is free of fishy taste, delicious to eat, benefits qi and regulates vitality, invigorates the stomach, and nourishes deficiencies and fatigue. It is an excellent food for strengthening the body and promoting longevity.
Fried oil cake is a snack made with glutinous millet flour (a type of soft millet dough) as the wrapper, and sweet fillings such as sugar, date paste, or red bean paste, then deep-fried until golden. It has a shiny yellow color, crispy on the outside yet tender inside, soft and sweet with a delicious taste. In the Jinzhong area, there are many varieties of oil cakes, which differ in preparation methods — including flaky layered cake, date cake (also called sliced cake), and raw fried cake…
Renowned for their exquisite knife skills, these noodles are often called "flying knife noodles." A specially designed tile-shaped knife is used. The dough is kneaded into a cylinder over a foot long, and when making the noodles, the cook stands in front of the pot, holding the dough with one hand and using the knife to shave strips directly into the boiling water from above. The resulting noodles are triangular in cross-section, all of uniform width and length. Skilled chefs can produce noodles that “one falls into the pot, one floats mid-air, one just leaves the blade — each strand leaps like a fish.” They have a soft, chewy exterior with a tender interior, smooth texture, and are easy to digest.
The “Yongsheng Hao” on Beida Street in Yuci City is a well-known traditional pastry shop. The “Yipin Sesame Cake” is one of its famous products. At the time, insiders called it a “steamed basket product,” as the technique was brought from Beijing. This product is meticulously crafted, using high-quality wheat flour, white sugar, lard, and other premium ingredients; the filling is made with fresh rose petals, candied fruits, crushed walnut kernels, and white sugar. The crust is made with lard, and the surface is sprinkled with sesame seeds. After preparation, the cakes are placed in an iron steaming basket and deep-fried in fragrant oil, which is why they are referred to as “steamed basket products.” These cakes are known for their crispness, fragrance, sweetness, and tender texture. They exude the aroma of sesame oil, are not hard to bite, and offer a melt-in-the-mouth experience that is both delicious and visually appealing—truly a standout among pastries.
Yuci Smoked Egg is a specialty of Yuci in Jinzhong, Shanxi. The "Smoked Egg" of Yuci was a traditional famous product of the Tongyuchang smoked meat shop on Yamen Street (now East Street) during the Republic of China era. The old owner of Tongyuchang was called Ji Zheng’an. People only know it as a long-established brand, but there is no record of when it actually started. According to local elders, “the broth in Tongyuchang’s old brine pot has been used continuously since the shop opened, with a deep color and rich flavor, known as the 'old brine'.”
"Siyanjing" Aged Vinegar Shanxi vinegar is renowned both at home and abroad, with the most authentic varieties coming from Yuci and Qingxu in central Shanxi's Jinzhong region. The "Siyanjing" aged vinegar produced by Yuci Huairen Old Vinegar Factory is a traditional, well-established brand. The old vinegar workshop in Yuci Huairen was established during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. By the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, it had adopted the trade name "Yüquanqing," which has been passed down through generations and is now...
Millet is a premium grain among staple foods. It can be cultivated in various terrains across northern China, including mountainous areas, hills, irrigated fields, and drylands. The Maogu millet produced in Shijie, Yuci, is uniquely distinctive. The variety of foxtail millet is called “Maogu.” The millet milled from this type of grain is smaller in size than regular millet and boasts a golden, shiny hue. When cooked into millet rice, it shines brilliantly with a golden color, and is fragrant and delicious...
Guanyun-Style Dog Meat is made from fresh, white dog meat that has undergone strict quarantine. It is processed using modern technology to produce a product that boasts a rich red hue, delicate texture, fragrant aroma, and refreshing taste. Packed with multiple nutrients and blended with a variety of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, regular consumption can nourish qi and blood, strengthen yin and kidney function, warm the stomach, and dispel cold. It helps invigorate the circulation and energize the body...
"Face masks" refer to the colorful makeup worn on the faces of male actors in traditional Chinese opera. This type of facial makeup is primarily used for the roles of "Jing" (painted face) and "Chou" (clown). It follows certain conventions in form, color, and type. Experienced audiences can tell from the face masks whether a character is a hero or a villain...
"Old age begins with the feet, and health preservation starts with foot care." The most notable features of handmade cloth shoes are their breathability, strong sweat absorption, and ability to enhance the foot’s adaptability and flexibility to the surrounding environment, thereby promoting overall body wellness from the feet up. Cat-head shoes, also known as tiger-head shoes, best showcase the craftsmanship of traditional Chinese women's needlework. The shoe design mimics the appearance of cats or tigers, looking endearing...
Nestled within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient city of Pingyao, steeped in the profound culture of Shanxi merchants, also emerges a multitude of folk treasures: the enigmatic courtyard homes of former banking houses, exquisitely polished lacquerware, richly flavored Pingyao beef, and a delightful variety of hundred kinds of snacks... And then there’s the uniquely shaped, comfortable, and health-promoting folk marvel—Pingyao’s specialty, the Liuhetai pillow.