The Helan Inkstone is one of the Five Treasures of Ningxia. It gets its name from the fact that the stone used to make it comes from Xiaogunzhongkou, located 40 kilometers west of Yinchuan city proper. As early as the 45th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1780 AD), the "Ningxia Prefecture Records" in the Geography and Mountains section recorded: “Brush Rack Mountain, located at Xiaogunzhongkou of the Helan Mountain, features three towering peaks resembling a brush rack…
Screw vegetable, also known as sweet dew or pagoda vegetable, has the botanical name Stachys sieboldii. Locally, it is called "dilziu." It is a perennial herbaceous plant with underground tubers that are as white as jade, shaped like silkworm pupae, and spiral in a pagoda-like formation. The flesh is crisp and tender, making it extremely delicious. It is one of the world-renowned "Eight Treasures Vegetables" and "Assorted Pickles."
Oat Noodles with Vegetables is a popular local snack that originated in the Guyuan area and is now widely made and served across Ningxia. The "oat" here refers to oatmeal flour (locals in Guyuan often call oats "燕麦," or oats, though they are technically referred to as "naked oats" or "Avena nuda"). The dish gets its name from the chewy and elastic texture of the noodles. It is commonly served as a cold dish. …
Stewed Snacks is a traditional and well-known delicacy, made in various regions across Ningxia. Since "sandwiched meat" (also called "filled meat") and meatballs are the two main ingredients of this dish, it is also known as Stewed Sandwiched Meat and Meatballs. Preparation: Wash the lamb, chop it into minced meat, and mix it with eggs, starch, chopped scallions, and minced ginger...
Helan stone, produced in the Helan Mountains, features a fine and dense texture, hard yet not brittle, naturally exhibiting deep purple and mottled green hues. Some pieces also uniquely contain structures such as jade belts, cloud patterns, eyebrow marks, silver threads, and stone eyes, forming patterns resembling clouds, moons, water, or mountains — all naturally elegant. After...
Wandering at the vast foothills of the Helan Mountains or along the surging banks of the Yellow River, one can’t help but be captivated by flocks of sheep rolling in like clouds, prompting spontaneous recitations of the famous verse: “The sky is vast, the wilderness boundless; when the wind blows low, flocks of sheep appear.” The Tan Sheep are descendants of Mongolian sheep, later migrating and breeding on the grassy plains along both sides of the Yellow River in Ningxia, becoming…
Helan Stone, produced in the Helan Mountains, features a fine and dense texture—hard yet not brittle—and comes in two natural colors: deep purple and bean green. Some stones also naturally contain intricate patterns such as jade belts, cloud veins, eyebrow marks, silver threads, and stone eyes, resembling clouds, moons, water, and mountains. These naturally elegant designs, when crafted by skilled artisans, are transformed into exquisite stone inkstone artworks. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, there was a saying…
One of the specialty products. Designed based on the precious Xixia porcelain artifact Yuchun Pot, while also featuring innovations, the Welcoming Spring Pot has a broad chest and a slender waist, with an elegant and elongated shape. The pure white and translucent body is adorned with a "Chang'e Flying to the Moon" design that appears to float and take flight. This porcelain pot is not only exquisite and graceful in appearance but also remains intact even when filled with water and boiled to its boiling point...
The flesh is thick, delicate, crisp, and sweet, with a balanced ratio of fructose to sucrose. These characteristics have made the melons from Zhangliang Village in Helan County widely renowned. For a time, Zhang Liang Melons became one of Ningxia’s geographical indications, alongside Lingwu Long Jujubes and Zhongning Goji Berries, turning this small village in the southeastern part of Helan County into synonymous with melons. The production area...
Screw vegetable is the tuber of Stachys sieboldii, a perennial herbaceous plant from the Lamiaceae family. The tubers are fleshy, crisp, and tender, suitable for making candied preserves, pickles, and other preserved foods, all of which are very tasty. It is commonly eaten cold as a salad but can also be processed into pickles, canned goods, sweet preserves, and more. It is one of the internationally renowned “Eight-Treasure Vegetables” and “Assorted Pickles.” Yangzhou canned screw vegetables are considered top-tier among pickled products...
The cultivation area of Dingbei Celery is primarily in Dingbei Village, Dingyi Village, Guinan Village, and Guiwen Village of Changxin Township, Helan County, Ningxia, extending to 23 villages including Jingu Village, Baonan Village, Yinhe Village, Lianxing Village, Xinping Village, Heping Village, Languang Village, Lansheng Village, and Xianjin Village in Ligon Town, Xigang Town, and Jingu Town. Helan County is located in the northwestern inland part of China’s Loess Plateau, situated in the northern part of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, at the center of the Yinchuan Plain within the Yellow River irrigation zone of Qingtongxia. Its geographical coordinates are between 105°53’ and 106°36’ east longitude, and 38°26’ and 38°48’ north latitude. It borders the Yellow River to the east, facing Taole County across the river; the Helan Mountain range lies to the west, with the main peak of the Helan Mountains forming a boundary with Alxa Left Banner of Inner Mongolia; to the south, it neighbors the suburbs of Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia; and to the north, it borders Pingluo County. The total planting area of Dingbei Celery reaches 600 hectares, with an annual yield of 54,000 tons.
"Eastern Foothills of the Helan Mountains Wine" is a China National Geographic Indication product, referring to wine produced in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China using locally grown high-quality grapes. Thanks to its unique natural resources, long-standing winemaking traditions, as well as modern management and brewing techniques, the wines from this region...
Ligang melons contain no less nutrition than watermelons, but their levels of aromatic compounds, minerals, sugars, and vitamin C are significantly higher. They have notable health benefits such as “relieving summer heat, quenching thirst, and promoting urination.” The region covers Huinong District, located in the northern part of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, stretching approximately 88.8 kilometers from east to west and 11…
A popular local delicacy in Yinchuan in recent years. The dough is rolled into long strips, boiled, and then served with chunks of lamb and diced radish as toppings. The noodles are chewy and flavorful, making them very delicious. (Shizuishan)…
Lamb Sautéed Noodles is a famous traditional noodle dish from Ningxia and a classic Hui ethnic flavor. It features a generous broth, smooth noodles, and a savory, spicy taste. In the streets and alleys of Shizuishan, you can find this dish in restaurants of all sizes. It is said that Lamb Sautéed Noodles evolved from the "Longevity Noodles" of the early Tang Dynasty, becoming a favored dish for celebrating the birthdays of elders, children, and...
Lamb noodle soup with dumplings is a dish that combines cold noodles, diced lamb, and lamb dumplings in a savory broth. It has a tangy and spicy flavor with a delicious taste. (Shizuishan)…
Knead high-quality flour into dough and let it rest on the board. Slice the lamb, heat oil in a wok, then stir-fry the lamb slices along with diced green onions, ginger, and garlic. Add soy sauce, salt, and prickly ash water, and bring to a boil. Roll out the rested dough thin, and when the water boils, break the dough into small pieces and drop them in. Once cooked, scoop them into the wok with the meat, stir-fry until well-flavored, then add fresh broth, seasonal vegetables...
It is a traditional food in Hui ethnic folk culture, a special term used by the Hui people for fried oil pancakes. When distinguished guests visit, or to celebrate a child’s full moon, 100th day, circumcision, or wedding, families fry these cakes in celebration. During Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and the Prophet’s Anniversary, every household fries oil cakes—not only to eat themselves but also to share with neighbors…
Premium Ingredients: Select lily bulbs that are white, large, and tightly closed, discarding those that are “thousand-character heads” (i.e., small and numerous bulbs with small, loosely packed scales), as well as those that are insect-infested, have yellow spots, are moldy, or have reddened skins. Use a sharp knife to trim off root hairs, remove dirt and impurities, and discard aged outer petals. Separate the peeled petals into three grades—large, medium, and small…
1. Cut the oxtail into sections along the joints, rinse clean in water, then boil in a pot of water until cooked through. Remove and wash off the blood. 2. Heat fragrant oil in a wok over high heat, add star anise, scallion segments, ginger slices, and garlic slices, and stir-fry until aromatic. Add sweet bean paste and stir well. Then add cooking wine, soy sauce, salt, cinnamon, sugar, chicken broth, water, and the oxtail. Bring to a boil and simmer...