The Flip-Flops are a traditional folk food of Qinghai, consisting of fried dough that is split open at both ends and cut along the middle. The process involves rolling out fermented dough thinly, then slicing it into strips about 1 inch wide and 3 inches long. A slit is made down the center without cutting through the ends, after which the ends are flipped out through the slit. These are then deep-fried in boiling oil for around five minutes until done. The result is a dry, yellow, crispy treat that is both tasty and easy to store, typically made during festivals and holidays…
Scientific name: pyrophyllite. Mined in Danma Township, Huangzhong County, Qinghai Province, hence the name "Danma Colored Stone," also known as Kunlun Colored Stone. Found within 30-centimeter-thick, banded, crosswise soil layers in the local mountains, it exhibits crystalline color patterns or petal-like designs. The colors include white, yellow-brown, red-brown, purple, orange, and more, predominantly yellow-brown,...
Milk skin, also known as dried cheese, is similar to what Western cuisine calls "cheese." It is one of the famous local specialties made from milk by farmers in the agricultural and pastoral areas of Qinghai, and is considered the most delicious and nutritious among milk-based products. Its production history spans nearly a hundred years. A well-known production area for milk skin is Menyuan Hui Autonomous County in Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The method of making milk skin involves boiling fresh milk in a pot, then reducing the heat and simmering it gently while constantly stirring to allow the moisture to slowly evaporate and the milk to concentrate. Eventually, a round, yellow milk cake forms at the bottom of the pot. After cooling and air-drying, it is ready. The milk skin is golden-yellow with white streaks, dotted with oil and covered in a honeycomb-like porous texture. When eaten, it melts in the mouth with a rich buttery aroma, offering a crisp yet tender flavor that is neither greasy nor heavy. It is highly nutritious, suitable not only for daily consumption but also as a premium dish during festivals, weddings, and family gatherings, as well as a thoughtful gift when visiting relatives, friends, or elderly patients. The elderly often enjoy soaking small pieces of milk skin in milk tea. When sliced and served on a plate as a dried fruit or soft candy, it makes an excellent buttery snack. (Haixi)
Ginseng fruit is native to the northern Andes in South America. It is a perennial herbaceous plant and a new variety that serves as both a nutritious medicinal vegetable and a fruit. Its flesh is sweet, juicy, fragrant, and has a unique flavor. It is high in protein, low in sugar and fat, and contains various vitamins and amino acids. Ginseng fruit contains...
Qinghai goji berries, also known as Chaiqi berries, are mainly produced in the Qaidam Basin. The fresh fruits are crystal-clear, glistening red, and ruby-like in appearance, with large, bright red berries. They are oval-shaped, with few seeds, thick flesh, uniform size, no broken berries, no mold, and no impurities—qualities that stem from the unique plateau continental climate of Qinghai’s Qaidam Basin...
Chop suey refers to thinly sliced boiled parts of cattle or sheep, such as the head, heart, liver, lungs, intestines, stomach, and trotters, served with a ladleful of flavorful broth seasoned with spices. The dish is tender, soft, tenderly mushy, and crisp, with a rich and aromatic broth. It is a rather well-known snack in Qinghai. Some colleagues who came from other regions to work in Qinghai grew so accustomed to eating chop suey that after retiring and returning to their hometowns, what they missed most about Qinghai was “chop suey.”
The Qinghai spotted naked carp, also known as the big-mouth fish, is a freshwater species of the genus Gymnocypris in the family Cyprinidae. It is mainly found in the Yellow River section within Maduo County, Qinghai Province, as well as in freshwater lakes such as Zhaling Lake and Eling Lake. It has also been discovered in the Naiqi River system of the Qaidam Basin. Its flesh is rich in fat, tender, and nutritious, but its eggs are toxic and not edible. Aside from being eaten fresh, the fish can also be dried...
Morphological Characteristics: A perennial herb. Plant height ranges from 15 cm to 35 cm. The stem is stout, with fibrous remnant leaf bases at the root collar. Leaves grow densely in clusters, are oblong or ovate-oblong in shape, and are sessile. 10 to 20 capitula are densely arranged into a spherical inflorescence at the top of the stem, sessile, with 3 to 4 layers of rosulate involucral bracts covered in sparse white long hairs, …
The pheasant mushroom is a specialty of Qinghai. It is the fruiting body of the fungus Pleurotus sajor-caju, belonging to the fungi kingdom, and is known for its tender and delicious flesh. Botanically, the pheasant mushroom is classified in the same group as the oyster mushroom, falling under the Basidiomycota phylum, Agaricales order, Tricholomataceae family, and Pleurotus genus. Originally native to the hilly regions of the Himalayas, the pheasant mushroom is a cultivated edible fungus introduced from abroad in recent years. It...
Thick pure wool yarn is a specialty of Qinghai and one of the region’s well-known crafts. It generally refers to yarn spun from wool, as well as yarn spun from a blend of wool and synthetic fibers or from synthetic fibers alone. The yarn has a linear density of around 400 tex, typically composed of four strands, with each strand having a linear density of about 100 tex. High-grade thick pure wool yarn is spun from fine wool…
Prairie Yellow Mushrooms Prairie Yellow Mushrooms are a rare and precious edible and medicinal mushroom. They grow in grasslands, especially thriving on alpine meadow grasslands where they form fairy rings and form mycorrhizal associations with pasture grasses. Rich in nutrients, analysis shows that every 100g of dried mushrooms contains 36.61–39.0g of crude protein, 14.58g of crude fat, …
Tibetan-Western Wool Tibetan-Western Wool is a top-tier natural green product from the "Qinghai-Tibet Plateau." The unique geographical environment nurtures a pollution-free, distinctive ecosystem on the plateau. It belongs to the wool series of "Qinghai White Wool," featuring long, fine fibers that are pure natural protein fibers. It boasts strong moisture absorption, excellent resilience, high insulation, and a long service life...
Yak down Yaks, known as the "boats of the plateau," are a unique bovine species native to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and high-altitude grasslands of China. China has a history of domesticating yaks for over 3,000 years. There are currently more than 12 million yaks distributed across provinces such as Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, and Gansu, accounting for over 85% of the global yak population. The rest are found in...
Tianjun Yak mainly consists of yaks and dzo (a hybrid of yak and cattle). Dzos are crossbreeds resulting from the natural mating of yaks and yellow cattle. They have short hair, a tall stature, and are often used as draft animals. Yaks are robust in build, with a well-proportioned and compact structure. Viewed from the side, the front part of their body is well-developed, the middle part is less so, and the hindquarters are relatively underdeveloped. The spine along the top line is long and high, the back and loin are flat…
Qaidam Yellow Cattle Breed Description Origin and Distribution: Edge regions of the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai Province. Physical Characteristics: Sturdy build, compact structure, rectangular body shape. Short and thick head, with both bulls and cows having horns that curve outward, upward, and then forward; thin and short dewlap, short and narrow rump, round and large belly, relatively low-set limbs, medium-sized and sturdy hooves…
【Germplasm Resource Name】 Purple Dama Horse 【Foreign Germplasm Name】 Chaidamu horse 【Family】 Equidae 【Genus】 Equus 【Main Production Area and Distribution】 Marshy areas in Dulan, Golmud, and Ulan in Qinghai Province. 【…
Zhongjia Town in Dulan County, Qinghai Province, is located in the southeastern part of the Qaidam Basin. In recent years, as part of efforts to adjust agricultural and livestock industry structures, the town has established goji berry production as its leading specialty industry. By 2010, the town had 59,800 mu of goji berry plantations, accounting for 81.8% of its total cultivated land area; households engaged in goji berry production and business…
Dulan goji berries are a specialty of Dulan County in Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. The goji berries from Dulan are known for their large size, plump and juicy flesh, vibrant color, uniform shape, absence of broken berries, no mold, no impurities, and sweet taste. The Nuomuhong area of Dulan County boasts abundant light and heat resources, and its soil and irrigation water are rich in various trace elements...
Tianjun Tibetan Sheep, short for the Tibetan sheep breed of Tianjun, is a coarse-wool sheep variety successfully bred by the Tibetan people of Tianjun over a long period in the unique environment of high altitude and extreme cold. Tibetan sheep are both a means of production and livelihood for the Tibetan people and serve as an advantageous and prioritized breed for the development of animal husbandry. They are well-adapted to the plateau’s oxygen-scarce environment, possess sturdy physiques…
It is a semi-solid food made by fermenting milk. There are two types: "Daxue" (made from whey after butter extraction) and "Exue" (made from milk that has not had the butter extracted). Since yogurt is a product of fermented milk, it is more nutritious and easier to digest. …