Roast whole lamb is one of Xinjiang's most renowned delicacies, comparable to Peking duck in Beijing or crispy suckling pig in Guangzhou. Its most authentic version comes from south of the Tianshan Mountains, where the distinct aroma can be savored at various-sized “bazaars” (local markets) in cities such as Kashgar and Hotan. The reason roast whole lamb is so highly regarded lies not only in the premium quality of the ingredients but also, more importantly, in its uniquely distinctive...
Xinjiang cold noodles, also known as yellow noodles, get their name from their yellow color. In the Uyghur language, they are called "Saerke Ashi" and are a popular summer snack. One of the key ingredients in the noodles is a substance called "penghui," which comes from a wild plant known as "stinky mugwort" that grows on the Gobi Desert. When autumn arrives, people gather the mugwort, pile it up in pits, and burn it. The liquid that flows out...
The Turpan Basin is surrounded by mountains with a low-lying center, where radiant heat from the ground has difficulty dissipating, making it one of China’s most well-known arid and hot regions. Historically, extreme temperatures have reached as high as 47.8°C. The basin is dry with little rainfall, enjoying 3,200 hours of sunshine annually, an average annual precipitation of just 16 millimeters, and an annual evaporation capacity exceeding 2,539.4 millimeters. There is no…
Located beside the world-famous Flaming Mountains on the southern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains in Shengjin Township, Turpan City. Its geographical location is unique—south of the Flaming Mountains, summers are long and extremely hot, winters are less severe; spring warms up quickly, and autumn cools rapidly, with large temperature variations of nearly 4°C. The northern side of the mountains, due to its climate characteristics, provides ideal conditions for cultivating premium wine grape varieties, yielding...
The Turpan Donkey is a high-quality local breed developed under Turpan’s unique ecological conditions through long-term selective breeding. It is a large dual-purpose (draft and meat) donkey breed, characterized by black coat, tall stature, well-developed body, and strong muscles. Adult male donkeys stand 141.2 cm tall and weigh 347 kg, while adult females stand 135.5 cm...
Turpan is located on the low-lying basin in central Xinjiang and is known as the "Land of Fire." It is one of China’s main grape production bases. Due to its high temperatures, long hours of sunlight, large diurnal temperature variations, dry climate, high autumn temperatures, frequent dry hot winds, and abundant groundwater reserves, the region is particularly suitable for grape cultivation. As a result, the area boasts lush fruits. Moreover, its unique...
Ferula is a perennial medicinal plant of the Apiaceae family. The milky sap from its roots is a valuable traditional Chinese medicine, also known as Ferula. It helps eliminate abdominal masses, stimulate appetite and improve digestion, and treat arthritis. Ferula mushrooms, also called Pleurotus ferulae or Ferula mushrooms, belong to the Basidiomycota subphylum, Agaricomycotina, Agaricales order, Pleurotaceae family, and Pleurotus genus. They are representative fungi found in arid grasslands. Due to their fruiting bodies...
The Big-Tail Sheep is a renowned and premium breed of sheep across China. Its meat is considered high-quality lamb, and even the fat from its tail is rich yet not greasy, making it highly favored by both tourists and locals. Locals humorously say that the Altay Big-Tail Sheep “eat Chinese herbal medicine, drink mineral water, and walk golden paths.” The local people prepare a variety of delicacies such as hand-grabbed lamb using Big-Tail Sheep meat,...
is a type of smoked meat product made by the Kazakh people. It is made by stuffing horse rib meat into a horse intestine and smoking it with juniper. When served, it is sliced and dipped in seasonings, offering a rich and distinctive flavor.…
Primarily produced in regions of Xinjiang such as Ili, Altay, and Hotan. Based on materials used in craftsmanship, they come in varieties like jade-inlaid wooden saddles, carved and painted wooden saddles, and leather-wrapped wooden saddles with rivets. The jade-inlaid wooden saddle is made from high-quality wood such as walnut, finely processed. Its front and back are inlaid with colorful jade stones, agates, and more; the sides of the saddle are adorned with...
The rice sausage is made using sheep’s large intestine stuffed with a filling of sheep heart, liver, seasonings, and rice. The mixture is packed into the intestine, tied securely, and boiled in cold water. During cooking, a thick skewer is used to poke the sausage to prevent it from bursting—otherwise, all the effort would be wasted. When served, it is cut into segments for easy eating. The amount of seasonings used varies by region, but…
A mid-early maturing variety with a total growth period of 78–83 days and a fruit development period of 35–38 days. The plant has moderate vigor, and the fruit is oval-shaped with golden-yellow skin covered by dark green stripes, giving it an attractive appearance. The flesh is light orange-red, fine-textured, slightly crisp, and of medium to high flavor quality. The central soluble solids content averages over 14%, and the average single fruit weight is…
Urho Farming Area Cantaloupe is a specialty of the Urho District in Karamay, Xinjiang. The 137th Regiment of the 7th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (Urho Farming Area) is located within the territory of Karamay City and Hoboksar Mongol Autonomous County in Xinjiang, with its regimental headquarters stationed in Urho Town. The Urho Farming Area lies to the southwest of the world-famous Devil's City (also known as Wind City), and is a...
Variety name: Mu Nage; Alias: Kezi Mu Nage (Red). Variety origin: Eurasian species. Originated in the Kashgar region of Xinjiang, China, and comes in two types: Green Mu Nage and Red Mu Nage. Mainly distributed in areas such as Hotan and Kashgar in Xinjiang. Botanical characteristics: Medium-sized leaves, nearly round, five-lobed, with deep upper lateral sinuses, closed…
When mature, the fruit stem does not detach. The rind is yellow with faint green stripes, and the netting is medium-coarse, densely covering the entire fruit. The flesh is orange-red, crisp, juicy, and sweet, with a relatively hard skin that stores and transports well.…
Ribier grapes have loosely set berries that are very large, averaging 10 grams per berry, with the largest reaching up to 19 grams. The berries are long and cylindrical in shape. They are bright red to dark red in color, highly attractive in appearance, with extremely thin skins and minimal bloom. The flesh is crisp, juicy, sweet in flavor, and of excellent quality. …
Figs belong to the Moraceae family. Because their tiny flowers are concealed inside the fleshy receptacle, they are also known as hidden fruit. Originally from West Asia, figs were introduced to China around the Tang Dynasty. Historical records refer to them as “Ayi,” while in the Uyghur language they are called “Anjir.” Figs are rich in fructose, fruit acids, proteins, vitamins, and other nutrients, offering tonic, laxative, appetite-stimulating, and lactation-promoting benefits. They…
The fruits come in round, pear-shaped, or oval forms, with smooth surfaces and colors ranging from red to yellow. They have a glossy sheen, a sugar content of 8–10 degrees, and weigh about 10–15 grams per fruit. They are delicious, sweet, and can be eaten fresh or used in both Chinese and Western dishes. The skin is firm, making them resistant to cracking and good for transport. So-called cherry tomatoes are the small tomatoes we usually eat…
Global Red grapes feature pinkish oval berries, averaging around 8 grams each. The thick and tough skin encases crisp flesh with a sweet taste. Each berry contains 2–4 seeds. The grapes are of high quality, vibrant in color, and excellent for storage and transport. …
The pomegranates of Karamay District are large and brightly colored, with an outer rind enclosing a cluster of sweet, juicy, translucent, granular fruits. These fruits are rich in sugar and acid, and contain more than twice the amount of vitamin C, as well as minerals such as phosphorus, iron, and calcium compared to apples and pears, making them highly nutritious. They are abundant in punicalagins, have a warm and astringent nature, and can both moisten dryness and promote constriction...