Within the Tianshui area, the dense forests provide an inexhaustible supply of natural materials for root carving art. As a result, root carving has developed early on and has remained popular through the ages, preserving its traditional craftsmanship to this day. In recent years, root carving art has seen new advancements, giving rise to many innovative products.…
Tianshui Huaniu Apples are produced in Huaniuzhai Village, Erlipu Township, Tianshui County, Gansu Province. The export-quality Red Chief apples grown here are the Huaniu Apples. These apples are large and well-shaped, with bright crimson skin, distinctly five-pointed bottoms, a fragrantly sweet and crisp taste, and top-notch quality—renowned overseas. …
Tianshui silk carpets are made from fine silk and chang silk, which undergo meticulous processing. The products are of high quality, featuring novel patterns, rich symbolism, vibrant colors, and a strong three-dimensional effect. There are nearly two hundred varieties, which are exported to more than ten countries and regions.…
Hemp has a long cultivation history in Qingshui and has been a local specialty since ancient times, renowned as “Spicy Peppers from Gangu, Hemp from Qingshui.” It enjoys fame across the Guanzhong region and is exported to Sichuan and Shaanxi. Moreover, hemp fiber is the best raw material for high-count yarns that are popular in the international market. Qingshui hemp is divided into two types: bast hemp and line hemp. Bast hemp features long fibers, thick skin, and high gum content...
Carpets, known in ancient times as “diyi” (floor coverings) or “qu shu” (woven mats), are a traditional handicraft in China with a long history. As early as over two thousand years ago, linen-woven carpets appeared in China, and the earliest carpets originated from the pastoral areas of the northwest. By the Tang Dynasty, carpet production and usage became more widespread, craftsmanship improved, and there emerged “red carpets that were fragrant, soft, and flowery, yet solid enough not to slip, upon which beauties danced, their embroidered silk shoes moving gracefully with each step.”
Wushan Garlic Sprouts — The Vegetable Association of Wushan County In recent years, the Da’nan River Basin has been developing in accordance with the “one township, one industry; one village, one product” model. It has focused on cultivating specialty products such as garlic sprouts, lettuce, tomatoes, mulched potatoes, and intercropped mulched melons and yardlong beans, continuously promoting the scientific, standardized, and large-scale production of vegetables. In the river valley plains of Luomen and Simen...
Qingshui Fruits Qingshui is a renowned fruit-producing region, famous for its pears, peaches, apples, and walnuts. The area cultivates 160,000 mu of apple orchards, yielding 70 million kilograms of fruit annually. Major varieties include Guoguang, Hongxing, and Fuji, making it a key production base for the internationally acclaimed Huaniu apples. It also grows 40,000 mu of walnuts, with an annual output of 3 million kilograms,...
Sesame Paste Buns use high-quality sesame seeds from Taishi, Qingshui — the seeds are shelled, filtered into sesame paste, and mixed with chopped scallions, garlic slices, ginger, and sesame oil to make the filling. The bun dough is made from premium wheat flour; half of the dough is yeast-leavened to create fluffy dough, while the other half is mixed into water dough. The two are combined, alkali is added, and the mixture is kneaded evenly and rolled out. Served with vinegar...
Located in Qingshui County, northeast of Tianshui City, wontons are among the most favored breakfast snacks for locals. Made with carefully selected ingredients and a complex cooking process, they are smooth on the palate and uniquely flavorful—unlike any other regional breakfast dish across China. Qingshui wontons also reflect a rich ethnic character due to the significant presence of Hui and other minority groups among the local population...
The lard box is a famous snack from Tianshui, Gansu, locally referred to as a Qing Dynasty imperial pastry. It is an adaptation of the imperial pastry "lard bun." It features a crispy yet soft texture, rich and fragrant taste, vibrant color, oily but not greasy, and flaky without falling apart. …
Jiulongshan Village, Caichuanpu Township: Specialty purple skin garlic.…
Qing Shui Hemp Shoes: Produced in Qing Shui County, these shoes are woven from hemp ropes. They have been popular since the Tang Dynasty. With exquisite craftsmanship, novel designs, rustic uniqueness, distinctive style, and a blend of artisan beauty and natural charm, they are economical, durable, and long-lasting.…
Pangong Jade is produced in Xiao Huashan Mountain, Qingshui County, and is named after Master Pang. Legend has it that during the Song Dynasty, Pang Yun from Xiangyang traveled westward to this place. He was captivated by the extraordinary beauty of the mountains, the lush greenery of the forests, and the perilous yet serene scenery, so he built a cottage and chose to live in seclusion. Throughout his life, Pang Yun was known for his generosity and kindness, often helping the poor and needy. His virtuous reputation moved the Heavenly Emperor, who bestowed upon him the title of immortal and invited him to ascend to heaven. Just before he left for the heavens, Pang Yun poured all his gold, silver, and jewels into the valley...
Qingshui County and Qin'an County are rich in wild sea buckthorn resources. According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Forestry during the Seventh Five-Year Plan period, these two counties have a total of 300,000 acres of wild sea buckthorn forests. Calculating based on one-third utilization, they can yield 46,000 tons of sea buckthorn fruit. The fruit is of superior variety, unique flavor, and free from pollution. These counties have been designated as sea buckthorn resource development bases by the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Yellow River Conservancy Commission...
The carpets and straw-woven products are renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship.…
Qingshui Banxia — The Banxia Association of Qingshui County. Qīngbànxià, also known as Qingshui Banxia, Qingxia, or Qingxia slices, refers to the processed and prepared form of Pinellia ternata using alum. The toxicity and acrid-drying properties of Qīngbànxià are reduced, while its phlegm-resolving effects are enhanced. It is suitable for individuals who are physically weak, have excessive phlegm, or suffer from mild cold-dampness conditions.
During the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, Qing Shui was inhabited by the Qirong and Mianzhu Rong tribes. In the reign of King Xiao of the Western Zhou Dynasty, Fei Zi, the leader of the Ying clan, was granted the status of a vassal of the royal family for his outstanding contributions to horse breeding. His fief was located in present-day Qinting Town, Qing Shui County, marking the earliest settlement within the area. In the second year of Emperor Wu of Han’s Yuanding era, Qing Shui County was established by splitting from Shanggui, and it has retained that name ever since. It earned its name from the phrase “clear springs flow in all directions,” and is the birthplace of the Yellow Emperor, the humanistic progenitor of Chinese civilization—truly the “hometown of Xuanyuan.” It is one of the important cradles of ancient Chinese civilization, as well as the birthplace of famous historical figures such as Zhao Chongguo, a celebrated general of the Western Han Dynasty, and Li Hu, the ancestor of the Tang Dynasty. It is also where Genghis Khan, the great Mongol conqueror, fell ill and died during his western campaign. Historically, Qing Shui served as the origin of livestock development in the region. Since the time of Fuxi culture, animal husbandry including the raising of the six domestic animals began here, representing the primitive form of the industry. During the Western Zhou Dynasty, Qin Feizi was rewarded by the Zhou court for his excellence in horse breeding, and was granted Qinting as his territory. Livestock husbandry flourished during the Han, Sui, Tang, Ming, and Qing dynasties, earning the reputation of “livestock thriving across the land.” Chicken farming in Qing Shui dates back over 3,000 years. Since 1986, improved breeds such as Starbro 288 and Jingbai have been introduced. The county's animal husbandry station implemented artificial mechanical incubation, providing farmers with 500,000–600,000 chicks annually. In 1992, the County Animal Husbandry, Industry, and Trade Station established a chicken farm, filling the gap in caged layer production. In 1991, the County Feed Mill set up a breeding farm with 1,100 Lohmann parent stock layers and 2,000 commercial layers, hatching and distributing over 50,000 chicks annually. Between 1997 and 2002, 16 specialized households developed large-scale poultry farming, raising over 200,000 chickens. Their success encouraged further expansion in Yongqing, Hongbao, Baisha, Songshu, and Baotuo townships between 2003 and 2004. In 2005, the Qing Shui County Science and Technology Breeding Park was established, housing 40 households and raising over 200,000 laying hens. Origin and product certification efforts were also initiated. As the layer industry grew, the Qing Shui County Chicken Breeders Association was formed. In 2006, spontaneous breeding zones such as Dongguan and Xiligou emerged in Yongqing. In 2007, during the village-wide development project in Tumen Cangxia Village, a poultry zone was built, hosting 10 households and raising over 20,000 chickens. Free-range chicken farming also expanded rapidly. In 2007, the Qing Shui Qin Yuan Breeding Farm was built, and with support from the Chicken Breeders Association, powder-shell egg breeds were introduced. The ratio of red and white egg-laying chickens was adjusted to increase the production of powder-shell eggs, establishing the “Qing Shui Powder-Shell Egg” brand. Starting with pollution-free origin and product certification, the county made remarkable progress in developing this niche product, pioneering the branding strategy for local poultry products. From June 2008 onward, powder-shell layer chicks were supplied to the public. In 2008, the government launched the “1810 Chicken Farming Project,” offering a subsidy of one yuan per laying hen, which greatly motivated farmers and led to further growth in large-scale operations. The powder-shell egg industry gradually matured, and Qing Shui Powder-Shell Eggs became a traditional product renowned across Gansu and even Tibet.
Qingshui Chinese Herbal Medicines Qingshui is located in the forest fringe area of Xiaolong Mountain and is a native habitat for wild medicinal herbs such as Pinellia ternata, Bupleurum, Adenophora, and Sophora flavescens. It has been a traditional producer of Chinese herbal medicines since ancient times. The county is home to 262 species of wild medicinal plants, including 155 plant species, with an annual harvest of about 600 tons. In recent years, through policy support and market-driven development, the county’s herbal medicine cultivation has reached 15,000 mu. The main artificially cultivated medicinal herbs include 12 varieties, primarily Chinese angelica, Codonopsis pilosula, rhubarb, Pinellia ternata, achyranthes root, astragalus, and Bupleurum.
Qingshui Pangong Stone is produced in the area around the Niutou River and Little Huashan Mountain at the foot of Pangong An Mountain in Hongbao Township, Qingshui County. As a traditional handicraft of Qingshui, it has a delicate texture, with jade-like green hues interspersed with red, yellow, white, and other colorful patterns. Skilled artisans demonstrate remarkable craftsmanship, creating pieces that rival nature’s artistry. The carved potted landscapes are lifelike and exude an antique elegance, featuring both ancient and modern figures, birds and beasts, rivers and mountains, flowers and trees, making them treasures of the nation. At the “Pangong Jade” exhibition held in Beijing in the early 1990s, it was hailed as “a unique wonder of China.”
Nutritional Analysis: The peel contains volatile oil, with the main components being limonene, cumic alcohol, and geraniol. Additionally, it contains various compounds such as plant sterols and unsaturated organic acids. 1. Prickly ash has a fragrant aroma, …