Influenced by the unique climatic conditions and geographical environment of the Loess Plateau, daylilies produced in Qingyang are light yellow or golden in color, fresh in texture without impurities, and uniformly long, tight, and thick. When you grab a handful and squeeze them into a ball, they feel soft and elastic, and when released, each daylily quickly springs back to its original shape. They have a refreshing, clean fragrance. Daylilies are commonly known as "golden needles"...
Qingyang’s héle noodles, also called zǐzi noodles, commonly known as “drinking soup,” are a type of noodle dish used by most families in the Longdong region to entertain guests during weddings and funerals. The soup is made by stir-frying ground dried chili and diced radish in hot oil until fragrant, then adding scallions, garlic, ginger, and Chinese star anise, stir-frying briefly before finally adding diced meat and cooking it until done (…
Hand-rolled noodles are a common home-cooked dish in Qingyang. The dough preparation is quite particular: mix the flour with salted water, knead it into a dough ball or crumbly texture, then let it rest to ferment. Roll the dough out to about 1 cm thick using a rolling pin, cut it into thin strips with a knife, and then hand-roll each strip into long noodles. Boil them in water, scoop them into a bowl, and serve with a prepared fresh broth...
The production of Zhengning shiitake mushrooms is an emerging green and pollution-free industry introduced and successfully trial-planted in our county after an investigation trip to Xixia, Henan in 2001, and then promoted throughout the county in 2002. In recent years, with strong support from provincial and municipal financial and agricultural development departments, the Xilong Edible Fungi Development Company was established, hiring high-salaried professionals...
Zhengning soybeans have a high flour yield, and the tofu from here is also very famous. Its main characteristics are its snowy white color and delicate texture. It is tender yet firm, making it ideal for stir-frying—it curls without breaking and holds its shape in soup. Among Zhengning tofu varieties, that from Shanhé Town enjoys the reputation of being the “King of Kings.” Legend has it that one of the Eight Immortals, Zhang Guolao, was from Luochuan Town in Zhengning. Once, he wanted to visit Lu Ban, the patron saint of carpenters...
Luochuan sun-cured tobacco, a specialty of Zhengning County, commonly known as "early tobacco," is also called "Dragon-Phoenix Tobacco" or "Tangtai Tobacco." It is mainly grown in Luochuan and has over 1,200 years of cultivation history. It was once regarded as a tribute to the imperial court. The tobacco leaves are thick, richly aromatic, and have a smooth and mellow flavor, making it one of Zhengning’s renowned specialties. Currently, the county cultivates 1,400 acres, producing…
The specialty Longmi Apples from Zhengning are exported to southeastern coastal cities, neighboring counties, and multiple countries and regions including Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, winning widespread popularity among consumers. By the end of 2006, the county’s orchard area reached 158,000 mu, with a total fruit output of 24,000 tons. This has led to the development of a high-quality fruit production belt spanning 30 kilometers across the southern plateau...
Cuisine: Stewed Lamb — A True Highland Delicacy Stewed Lamb is truly a unique dish of the highlands, available only during the spring and autumn lambing seasons. This dish is made using the meat of lambs about half a month old. It is a traditional and prized delicacy in the semi-agricultural, semi-pastoral regions of counties such as Guide, Guinan, and Huangyuan. The skin is removed from the lamb, the internal organs are cleaned out, and the meat is prepared...
The Loess Plateau in northwest China meets seven meteorological indicators ideal for apple cultivation, making it the world’s recognized largest optimal apple-growing region. Within this zone, Zhengning County stands out as the premier growing area. With an average altitude of 1,460 meters, an average temperature of 8.3°C, annual precipitation of 630 mm, and a frost-free period of 180 days,…
Every autumn, when fruits are fragrant and harvests are in sight, the rural roads of Gonghe Town in Zhengning County bustle with vehicles loaded with scallions—big and small, bustling and endless, creating a lively scene. A gust of wind blows, carrying the refreshing aroma of scallions that intoxicates the senses. Witnessing the bountiful scallion harvest in the countryside naturally brings to mind the many virtues of scallions. The…
Longmi Red Fuji Apples -- In 2015, the "Longmi" brand Red Fuji apples produced in Zhengning County were recognized as a nationally renowned, specialty, and high-quality new agricultural product. These apples are large in size, vibrant in color, and have a well-formed shape, indicating high quality. The skin is smooth, moderately thick yet tough, and has a fair amount of wax. When ripe, the base color of the fruit's surface is light yellow, covered with dark red or bright red blush or streaks. The fruit has a high sugar content, a delicious sweet-and-sour taste, a rich aroma, crisp and juicy flesh, and a dense texture. Each apple weighs about 280 grams, with the largest reaching up to 400 grams. Most fruits are flat-round in shape, with a fruit index of around 0.9, while a few are nearly round. The soluble solids content is 15.8%, and the acid content ranges from 0.2% to 0.4%. The apples are firm and offer a refreshing bite, representing top-tier quality. They are highly resistant to storage and transportation, and can be kept until April or May of the following year. After storage, the flesh remains firm without becoming mealy, the flavor changes little, weight loss is minimal, and there is little incidence of disease. These apples are highly competitive in the market and are very popular with consumers.
The tribal settlement of the Yellow Emperor, the cultural progenitor of the Chinese people, was originally located in the Ziwuling Mountains east of Zhengning. The Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of the Five Emperors states, “The Yellow Emperor passed away and was buried on Mount Qiao.” The Geographical Records of the Book of Han notes, “Mount Qiao is situated in Yangzhou County of Shangjun Commandery in the upper reaches of the River, where the tomb of the Yellow Emperor lies.” The Comprehensive Gazetteer records, “The Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor is located eighty li east of Luochuan County in Ningzhou, within the Ziwuling Mountains.” Therefore,...
The handmade winnowing basket is a renowned local specialty product of Zhengning County, renowned for centuries and widely praised. The place famous for producing these handcrafted winnowing baskets is Hetaoyu Village in Zhoujia Township. The village is predominantly surnamed Yang, with around 300 households and a population of more than 1,400. The craft of weaving winnowing baskets was brought by the ancestors of the Yang family when they migrated from Houma Township, Quwo County, Shanxi Province in the year 1…
The Prosperity Fragrant Rolls at Jinzunyuan Gourmet Village in Zhenyuan County are a distinctive and affordable snack — simple in ingredients yet crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a delightfully flaky and fragrant taste. They are made by cutting bread into square pieces, adding banana on one side and red bean paste on the other, coating the bread with an egg batter, then deep-frying it in oil at 150°C until golden yellow. During the frying process, it's crucial to control the heat. The finished rolls emerge resembling chrysanthemums in full bloom during autumn, making them irresistibly appetizing — hence the name "Prosperity Fragrant Rolls."
Zhenyuan Sugar Fried Pancakes When you stroll along the streets of Zhenyuan, you’ll often see stacks of pancakes neatly arranged in rectangular wooden trays at food stalls. These pancakes are dark red in color, with thin, crispy crusts and a sweet, delicious taste. The dough for sugar fried pancakes is carefully prepared by mixing equal parts fermented dough, raw dough, and cooked dough, along with an appropriate amount of honey, brown sugar, eggs, cooked oil, and…
In Zhenyuan, daylilies are called "golden needle vegetables," likely because they resemble oversized, bright golden needles. The Jin Dynasty imperial censor Zhou Chu once said, "Pregnant women who wear these flowers will give birth to boys, hence the name 'Yinan' (favorable for sons)." Yinan is one of its aliases. Daylilies are also known as hemerocallis, "daughter flowers," and "forget-worry herbs." Yet, whether called flowers or herbs, they have never graced the refined halls of floral elegance. Though praised for their golden hue, they ultimately won fame for their delicious taste and rich nutrition, becoming a staple on banquet tables for guests and family gatherings.
Zhenyuan County is honored as the "Number One Apricot Hometown in the World." The cultivation of apricot trees here dates back 2,000 years, and the large, sweet fruits have enjoyed enduring popularity. In December 2004, the county was officially certified by the State Forestry Administration and awarded the title of "China's Apricot Hometown." To further promote the local red apricot culture and industry, establish Zhenyuan’s signature red apricot brand, and accelerate the development of the apricot sector...
Xuanma Pear Jujube is produced along the Rouyuan River in Qingyang County. Shaped like pears, they are deep red all over, typically about the size of chicken eggs, with small pits and crisp flesh. They are sweet with a slight tang and won a silver award at the 1997 Lanzhou Trade Fair, making them a rare delicacy among jujubes. (Qingyang Region)…
Maling Yellow Wine is a historic and renowned traditional Han Chinese liquor. The *Qingyang County Annals* record: “In November, on the Winter Solstice Festival, ancestors are honored. Water is drawn and frozen to make Chunfen Wine.” It also states: “On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, water is drawn on this day to brew wine, called La Wine.” Whether it’s “Chunfen Wine” or “La Wine,” both are types of yellow wine. Yellow wine is generally brewed in winter,...
Feasts are quite popular in Zhenyuan County, with similar customs across different areas. For funerals, single-meal feasts such as "Nine Dishes" and "Ten-One" are commonly served; for joyous occasions (weddings, birthdays, baby’s first month, etc.), double-meal feasts like "Ten Complete" are preferred. The "Thirteen Flowers" feast is used for both happy and sad events and is considered a high-end banquet. In recent times, notable local chefs have included Zhang Guojun (nickname: Zhang Five-Back-Pot),…