The method for making Mashi Zi is quite simple. First, mix the dough with salted water, let it rest in a basin for a while, then take it out and knead it repeatedly until the dough becomes soft and shiny. Next, find a new straw hat, pinch a small piece of dough about the size of half a fingertip between your right thumb and index finger, and roll it along the brim of the hat. This will create a piece of Mashi Zi that is uniformly thin and round...
Dongwan Green Radish The unique local water, soil, light, and thermal conditions allow radishes grown in Dongwan Village to be large, sweet, round-shaped, crisp and juicy, with no spiciness and an excellent texture. Their entire body is emerald green, hence they are commonly called “green radishes.” The history of cultivating green radishes in Jinchuan District can be traced back to the 1970s. After more than 40 years of development, the Dongwan Green Radish…
1. Cultural and Historical Background. Jinchang has a long history. As early as over 4,000 years ago during the primitive clan society, humans lived and thrived here. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, it was grazing land for the Western Rong tribes. From the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period to the Qin Dynasty, the Yuezhi people were nomadic in this area. In the early Han Dynasty, it was under the jurisdiction of the Xiongnu chanyu (chieftain) Xiutu. From the establishment of counties by Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty to the early Yuan Dynasty, over a thousand years passed, during which counties and prefectures such as Wan’niao, Fanhe, Xianmei, Fanhe, and Yanzhi were established...
Jinchuan Red Chili Peppers: The fruit is horn-shaped, reaching 12–14 cm in length, with a smooth and glossy surface, thin skin, thick flesh, low moisture content, and high red pigment content. The yield of fresh chili peppers reaches over 2,000 kg per mu, while dried chili pepper yield exceeds 350 kg per mu, with strong disease resistance. The dried chili peppers have a pure color, intense spiciness, and excellent quality, meeting the...
Jinchang’s specialty, Grey Fragrant Beans, is a famous traditional snack from Gansu that is beloved by locals. Made by selecting high-quality black beans and cooking them with lime ash, then cooling and mixing with sugar, these beans are both delicious and visually appealing. They have a cooling effect on the body and help clear heat from the blood, making them a refreshing treat to beat the summer heat and quench thirst. …
Jinchang Imperial Ginseng, a specialty of Jinchang, is an extremely rare variety of ginseng found only in the deep mountains of the Jinchang area. Historically considered a precious local product, it is the root or rhizome of a wild plant, known for its sweet taste and yellowish color. Legend has it that when Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty made a western tour to the village of Liqian, local residents presented him with this ginseng. After tasting it, the emperor highly praised it. …
Jinchuan District: Known for its sugar beets, fruits, and melons...
Yongchang Bulazi is a traditional snack beloved by locals, with a long history and simple preparation method. The main ingredient is flour, while the toppings are rich and varied — including carrots, beetroot, fenugreek leaves, mugwort, elm seeds, locust flowers, sheep’s beard flower, and more. It can also be made with just flour. There are two cooking methods: steaming and braising. The flavor of Bulazi varies depending on the toppings used. …
Yongchang County is the historic site where the surrendered Roman legionnaires grazed their rams after pledging allegiance to the Han Dynasty, boasting a long history of sheep husbandry and a strong industrial foundation in mutton sheep production. Over the years, the Yongchang County Party Committee and County Government have vigorously developed this sector as a pillar industry for enriching the people and strengthening the county. The total number of sheep raised has now reached 1.6 million, making it a renowned sheep-raising stronghold in the province. “…
Carrots are a specialty of Yongchang. They are bright in color, sweet and juicy, highly nutritious, and can be eaten raw or cooked, making them very popular among consumers. They are an excellent choice for banquets and gifts. Carrots are rich in nutrients, particularly carotene and various vitamins, and offer benefits such as lowering blood pressure, strengthening the heart, reducing inflammation, and alleviating allergies. They also help treat conditions like anemia, gastrointestinal issues, and lung diseases...
1. Historical Background of Yongchang Beer Barley Barley is an annual cultivated cereal grain belonging to the grass family, known in ancient times as "Mou." It has well-developed fibrous roots. The caryopsis often displays complex colors such as yellow, green, brown, purple, and black. The endosperm consists of floury (starch) and horny (protein) textures, with their proportions varying by variety. Barley is characterized by its short growth period, early maturity, cold resistance,...
The Liqian Golden Trout Breeding and Cultivation Base in Yongchang County is located in Jiaojiazhuang Township, 10 kilometers west of Yongchang County. The township is rich in spring water resources, with year-round flowing springs of excellent quality. The water is abundant in beneficial minerals for the human body such as strontium, lithium, and zinc, contains no harmful elements or pollution, and is considered a natural premium product. The water quality and...
Black melon seeds are not your ordinary watermelon seeds but come from a special type of melon known as seed melon. The primary nutrients of the seed melon are directed toward the growth of these seeds, leaving the fruit itself tasteless and not sweet. As a result, Yongchang black melon seeds are notably large, thick, oily, and aromatic, and can be processed into a variety of flavors. They are highly popular both domestically and internationally, often in high demand and short supply. …
The primary characteristic of ostrich egg carving crafts from Jingtai County is the artistic carving and processing of ostrich eggs. The ostrich egg is the largest bird egg in the world, known for its hard texture and bright white luster, and is hailed as a natural substitute for ivory. Ostrich egg artworks represent a fusion of modern and traditional Chinese culture. They are vibrant in color, luxurious in appearance,...
Gansu-style Snacks…
Chengguan Town: Local specialties include hair moss. Xinchengzi Town: Known for fine-wool sheep. Local specialties include hair moss and mushrooms. It produces abundant herbs such as Notopterygium, rhubarb, and Gentiana macrophylla. Maojiazhuang Village in Xinchengzi Town: Local specialties include mushrooms and hair moss. Hongshanyao Township: Local specialties include hair moss, and it produces abundant ephedra, rhubarb, and trogopterus dung. Maobula Village in Hongshanyao Township: …
Chengguan Town: Local specialties include hair moss. Xinchengzi Town: Known for fine-wool sheep. Local specialties include hair moss and mushrooms. It also produces abundant traditional Chinese medicinal herbs such as Notopterygium, rhubarb, and Gentiana macrophylla. Xinchengzi Town Maojiazhuang Village: Local specialties include mushrooms and hair moss. Hongshanyao Township: Local specialties include hair moss, and it is rich in ephedra, rhubarb, and trogopterus dung. Hongshanyao Township Maobula Village:…
“Liangzhou Smoked Vinegar” is an indispensable table condiment in the daily meals of people in Northwest China. The “Yunxiao Brand” Liangzhou Smoked Vinegar, produced by Wuwei Yimin Food Factory, is meticulously brewed from a variety of premium ingredients, combining traditional fermentation techniques with modern processing technologies. Its quality indicators exceed the national first-class vinegar standards and it contains 15 amino acids and reducing sugars…
Morel: Also known as sheep's stomach mushroom, it gets its name from its resemblance to a sheep’s stomach. It is a rare, one-year edible fungus. Growing in high-altitude forests, morels have a delicate texture, rich nutrients, and delicious flavor. They help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and suppress cancer cells and toxins in the body. The protein content in 0.5 kilograms of morels is equivalent to that in 1 kg of meat, 1.5 kg of eggs, or 6 kg of milk. It is also a medicinal fungus effective for digestive diseases, with the function of “aiding digestion and benefiting internal organs.” Long-term consumption can enhance the body’s immunity.
Willow Flower Vegetable: Grows in the pristine forests of high-altitude mountains above 3,000 meters in Gansu and Qinghai, classified as a wild fungus. It is one of the most primitive existing plants, with a growth cycle of up to three years. It parasitizes on willow branches and resembles black fungus, also known as green wood ear. Willow Flower Vegetable has a mild taste and cool nature, and is rich in amino acids and high-quality protein, as well as coarse…