Qingshui Acacia Honey has been recognized by the Executive Council and expert panel of the China Beekeeping Association, and Qingshui County in Shanxi Province has been officially named China’s Hometown of Bees. It is the fifth such designation in China, following Jiangshan City in Zhejiang Province, Huizhou District in Anhui Province, Chengkou County in Chongqing Municipality, and Pubei County in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Qingshui County is located at the junction of the Taihang Mountains and the Zhongtiao Mountains…
Yangcheng Cordyceps is a specialty of Yangcheng County, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province. Also known as Dongchongxiacao or simply Cordyceps, it is a composite of the stroma and the carcass of the larva formed by the fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis, which parasitizes the larvae of ghost moths. As a traditional and highly valued tonic Chinese medicinal herb, it is ranked alongside natural ginseng and deer antler…
The main ingredients for braised pork are pig’s head, pig’s tail, pork knuckle, and pig’s trotters. After washing and cutting the ingredients into chunks, more than ten seasonings—including Sichuan peppercorn, star anise, cloves, and cinnamon—are added. The mixture is simmered for about eight hours until the meat becomes tender and the broth rich and flavorful. By around four in the afternoon, diners start to arrive. A spoonful is scooped into a bowl, topped with garlic sauce—the aroma of garlic and meat…
Runcheng Town is located 7 kilometers east of Yangcheng County and is also known as "Little Town." It is a famous historical and cultural town. Runcheng Jujube Cake — these flower-shaped steamed buns — are made through a meticulous process. The wheat must be soaked in water at an appropriate temperature for 1–2 days until small sprouts emerge, then dried and ground into flour. Only buns made with this flour will have...
In Yangcheng, locals like to serve “hot pot” when celebrating happy occasions, treating it as elaborately as hosting a formal banquet. The main ingredients for making hot pot include vegetables, mao tou wan (meatballs), glass noodles, meatballs, meats, eggs, and more. Vegetables are selected according to the season and can include winter melon, Chinese cabbage, carrots, etc.; mao tou wan are homemade, made from glass noodles, cornstarch, and chopped scallions…
Zage (a local savory soup) and pancakes make a wonderful combination. The main ingredient for making pancakes is millet, which is highly nutritious. The first step in making pancakes is to soak the millet in hot water for one hour, then grind it into millet porridge. The porridge used for making pancakes, processed through this traditional stone mill, fills the small courtyard with a rich millet aroma. Nowadays, this method of processing has...
Locals love sheep offal stew just as much as Chongqing people love hotpot and Xi'an folks love pita bread soaked in lamb soup—an enduring passion passed down through generations. The way diners at these small eateries enjoy their meals reveals the deep affection locals have for this dish. Whether adults or children, seated, standing, or squatting, everyone relishes a bowl of...
Yangcheng County has a long history of mulberry cultivation and sericulture, dating back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties, flourishing in the Tang and Song dynasties, with over 3,000 years of sericultural production history. As early as more than two thousand years ago, mulberries were already a tonic exclusively used by Chinese emperors. After more than a year of preliminary review, expert evaluation, and public announcement, in 2013, "Yangcheng Mulberries" were awarded the agricultural product geographical...
Yangcheng Oil Cake is another local specialty with a distinctive flavor. It is made by steaming sweet potatoes, mashing them, mixing with flour, and shaping them into round or oval forms. When the oil is heated to about 80% of its boiling point, the cakes are fried until golden brown and then served. Rich in nutrients, they have a crispy exterior and soft interior, making them delicious and enjoyable to eat.…
Yangcheng Meat Can, a specialty of Shanxi Province, is a distinctive local snack. It is made by stewing pork, beef, or mutton along with millet and various seasonings using a unique cooking process. The result is a richly aromatic dish with tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat that boasts a pure and savory flavor. Specialty ingredients: 500g of lamb (fat and lean), 100g of millet, 5g of salt…
The Wang Mansion Eight-Eight Banquet is a culinary tradition passed down in the eastern part of Yangcheng County. It earned its name from the sixteen main dishes, which follow the principles of the “Eight Trigrams generating all things” and “good things come in pairs” from the I Ching (Book of Changes), and from the even number of eight courses served twice—hence “eight-eight.” With a long history and distinctive flavors, it is a renowned and ancient banquet celebrated far and wide. According to ancestral tales, the Wang Mansion Eight-Eight Banquet originated during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, making it over four hundred years old...
When you’re sitting in an elegantly appointed restaurant, having ordered a few tasty side dishes to go with your beer—whether you're sipping solo or toasting with friends—don’t forget to order a plate of Yangcheng’s roast liver. Before long, the waiter will arrive with a steaming plate of slightly charred, thinly sliced goodness. The moment it hits the table, a rich aroma wafts through the air. Hurry…
Oil Dumplings are a type of noodle-based dish served with a specially prepared dipping sauce made from garlic, vinegar, and other seasonings. They have a crispy exterior and a tender, smooth, and refreshing interior, giving a meat-like sensation — they’re absolutely delicious. The preparation is very particular, often requiring years of experience for locals to master the technique. Nowadays, there are not many people in Yangcheng who can make them well, and they are rarely seen for sale on the streets. …
When traveling to Yangcheng, how can you enjoy the delicious dishes on the table without some staple food to go with them? Gaozhuang steamed buns are soft, sweet, and famous across southeastern Shanxi — you really ought to give them a try. These buns are taller and larger than ordinary ones, snow-white in color and soft as sponge. Though they may look simple, their preparation involves strict standards. First, the wheat must…
In the early morning, walking along the streets of Yangcheng, you’ll see crowds gathering in front of snack shops. Customers are happily enjoying golden, round pancake-like foods served on plates. This is a traditional and iconic snack of Yangcheng — millet pancakes. They are fragrant, soft, and delicious, especially when paired with local millet porridge or zage (a type of savory pancake), which enhances their flavor even more…
Next, let’s introduce you to a unique delicacy of Yangcheng—Mao Tou Wan. Although this dish and meatballs both belong to the “ball” category, their shape, appearance, and flavor are completely different. Its ingredients are extremely simple, requiring only some glass noodles, white radish, cornstarch, along with scallions, ginger, garlic, and other seasonings. The radish is cut into strips, the glass noodles into 1…
Walnuts have been cultivated in Yangcheng County for a long time, and their quality is renowned across China for being thin-shelled, thick-fleshed, brightly colored, and rich in flavor. The annual production exceeds 1,000 tons. In March 1991, at an international trade fair attended by 54 countries held in Panama, the Shanxi-exported walnuts selected from Yangcheng County and 17 other counties won the gold award. Walnuts (…
Located at the foot of Xicheng Mountain in Henghe Town, Yangcheng County, the area features deep river valleys and towering peaks that reach into the clouds, creating breathtaking scenery. Xicheng Mountain has naturally formed fissures from which a sacred spring flows, irrigating vast tracts of land across several nearby towns. The unique combination of mountain spring water and black mineral-rich soil provides ideal growing conditions for Xicheng daylilies. The daylilies here are golden in color...
Dahuapao prickly ash is also a key agricultural specialty of Yangcheng. The "Xicheng Mountain" brand Dahuapao prickly ash series boasts great potential, high profitability, and broad market prospects. In recent years, as living standards have improved, people have become increasingly conscious of seeking purely natural and green products.
Yangcheng County is abundant in mulberry trees and enjoys the reputation of being the “Number One Sericulture County in North China,” boasting rich resources of mulberries. Mulberries are the nearly ripe, dried aggregate fruits of the white mulberry, a plant of the Moraceae family, containing components such as rutin, anthocyanins, carotene, vitamin B1, B2, C, and more. According to *Compendium of Materia Medica* and modern related texts, mulberries…