Alfalfa is a wild plant that grows on the ridges of the Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi. It has a bright green color, abundant foliage, and is rich in vitamins and minerals. It is highly adaptable and extremely resilient, with strong resistance to cold and drought. Alfalfa is usually stir-fried with oil and seasonings, and sometimes sautéed with free-range chicken eggs, resulting in a very delicious taste. (…
Hand-pulled noodles are the most commonly eaten type of noodle in Yanchuan, and almost every woman knows how to make them. The process involves: mixing the dough, adding water, kneading, rolling it out (which can be thick or thin), cutting it (which can be fine or wide), and boiling... There are usually the following three ways to eat them: The first way: prepare a simple soup, and once the noodles are cooked, mix the soup and noodles together to eat...
Yellow Millet Steamed Buns are a type of festive food eaten by people in Yanchuan during the New Year. As the Lunar New Year approaches, families take out one or two dou of freshly milled yellow millet, soak it in clean water overnight, and the next day when the sun is out, they take the millet that has been drained for about an hour and grind it repeatedly into yellow millet flour on a large millstone. Then they add the very crucial “old starter dough,” wrap it up well in quilts on a very hot heated bed, and let it ferment overnight. By the next morning, when the rooster crows, it’s time to steam the Yellow Millet Steamed Buns.
Yan'an jujubes have long enjoyed a great reputation, especially those from Yanchuan County, which are particularly famed. Located east of the Yellow River, Yanchuan County lies in a temperate semi-arid region characterized by dry, low-rainfall weather, significant day-night temperature variations, and long hours of sunlight. Due to the unique geographical influence of the Yellow River, it serves as an ideal habitat for jujube cultivation, boasting over 300 years of planting history. The county's main varieties—round jujube, strip jujube, and dog-head jujube—produce large fruits with thick flesh and sweet taste, representing high-quality dried and fresh varieties. The crisp jujube, also known as hanging-tooth jujube, is another standout, featuring large fruits with thin red skin, white and tender crispy flesh, and a sweet honey-like flavor. It is an exceptional raw snack, particularly favored by women and children. In 1982, Kim Il-sung, Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, visited Xi’an and, after tasting these jujubes, praised them highly, subsequently importing 300 high-quality jujube saplings from the county to North Korea. Currently, the county has a total jujube orchard area of 8,000 hectares, yielding over 2,000 tons annually, earning it the title “Hometown of Jujubes.” Locally produced products such as "Pagoda Brand" jujube jam, golden-thread candied jujube, and drunken jujube have repeatedly won awards, becoming beloved delicacies among visitors.
Yan'an millet, also known as foxtail millet, benefits from the region's exceptional natural conditions and the long-term production practices of the local people. With abundant light and heat resources, significant day-night temperature variations, and high nutrient accumulation, the area yields rich harvests of millet. After minimal processing, the grains turn into the golden, fragrant millet we know. Yan'an millet made a special contribution to China’s revolution...
People in northern Shaanxi refer to the bridal chamber as the “canopy room.” Upon entering, the bride first takes her seat in the canopy, and the “wedding canopy flowers” are the decorative paper-cuts pasted on the canopy room’s ceiling. In northern Shaanxi weddings, other furniture in the canopy room may be optional, but the wedding canopy flowers are indispensable. According to the hosts’ preferences, the designs can vary in size and come in a wide range of themes. Typically round or diamond-shaped, these flowers often feature...
Barley soaked rice with lamb milk is a rare and highly cherished delicacy in Ansai, especially popular among honored guests. Nestled within the undulating hills of the Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi, Ansai has limited flat terraced fields for farming, but vast stretches of wild slopes serve as excellent grazing grounds. The lamb from Ansai is renowned far and wide—not only is it exceptionally tender, but it also boasts a richer fragrance, and…
Huanglong corn is renowned for its vibrant color, superior quality, excellent taste, and high yield. It has been awarded the Ministry of Agriculture’s Corn High-Yield Award and the Provincial First Prize for Corn High-Yield Development, as well as the Provincial Corn High-Yield Competition Excellence Award in 2006. Huanglong corn boasts a long history of development, successful cultivation practices, and strong enthusiasm among farmers for planting...
Walnuts are a premium food known for boosting brain health and promoting longevity. Visitors to Huanglong County often receive a box of the county’s specialty—thin-shelled walnuts. These walnuts are not only easy to eat, but according to authoritative assessments, they have low tannin content, high unsaturated fatty acid levels, a pleasant taste, and nutrients that are readily absorbed by the human body, making them highly popular in the market...
Huanglong apples have seen particularly rapid development in recent years, now covering an area of 35,000 mu with an annual output of around 20 million kilograms. The main variety is Fuji. Thanks to the abundant sunlight and large diurnal temperature variation in the production area, the apples boast superior quality, color, and taste, and have consistently enjoyed strong market demand. …
The Huanglong Prickly Ash mainly consists of the Dahuapao variety, primarily grown in towns such as Baimatan, Baiyu, Hongshiya, Fanjiazhuozi, Jietoumiao, and Sancha. The total cultivated area across the county has now exceeded 30,000 mu. Renowned for its large fruit, thick flesh, and excellent flavor, it is sold all over China.…
Huanglong chestnuts are unique to Yan'an City, with a long history of cultivation. The product has consistently enjoyed strong sales and was even exported to Japan in the 1970s. Currently, the cultivation area exceeds 10,000 mu, primarily distributed around Baimatan Town and Baiyu Township, with an annual yield of over 200,000 kilograms.
Fried Cake Bubbles, also known as Fried Beans or Fried Bread Beans, is a famous traditional snack from Yanchuan County in the Yan'an region. It is a dry food made by steaming and frying flour. With its crispy and sweet taste and convenient portability, it is very popular among locals. The history of Fried Cake Bubbles is also very long, and historical records indicate that it evolved from “Qiushi Hou,” two…
Yanhean Goutou Jujube is a specialty of Yanhean County, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province. It is one of the province's renowned fruit products, with the highest quality produced in Zhuangtou Village and surrounding villages in Yanshui Pass Town. The Yanhean Goutou Jujube was selected through optimization from a local variety known as "Goutou Jujube" (also called Gounao Jujube) originating from Zhuangtou Village, Yanhean County, by the Northwest A&F University and the Yanhean County Jujube Industry Bureau...
Millet, also known as Setaria italica, was called "he" in ancient times. It is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Poaceae family. In northern China, it is commonly referred to as "gu" (millet grain), and after hulling, it is called millet. It thrives in warm climates and is highly adaptable. There are many varieties of millet, which can be divided into glutinous and non-glutinous types based on the nature of the grains; they can also be categorized by the color of their husks into yellow, white, brown, and more...
Zichang Stuffed Intestine is a traditional snack from Zichang County, renowned throughout Northern Shaanxi. It is made by mixing high-quality buckwheat flour with water to form a paste, which is then stuffed into cleaned pig intestines and steamed slowly over low heat in a pot. There are two ways to enjoy it: 1) Serve sliced stuffed intestine with garlic soup. 2) Serve sliced stuffed intestine with spicy sausage and spicy liver. Each way is incredibly...
When visiting Zichang County under the jurisdiction of Yan'an City, hosts always serve two local specialties—pancakes and cold noodles—to entertain guests. They proudly say: "We Zichang people grow up eating pancakes and cold noodles. Our Zichang pancakes and cold noodles are simply the best in the world." Pancakes may not be rare—many places across China enjoy them—but Zichang pancakes…
Mix buckwheat flour with water to form a dough, then gradually add small amounts of water while kneading. Continue adding water and kneading until the mixture becomes pasty. Then dilute it with more water (alternatively, you can use peeled buckwheat kernels, soak them in an appropriate amount of water for about 10 minutes, crush them on a cutting board using a rolling pin, place them in a basin, mix with water to form a dough, then knead again with a small amount of water, …
Sweet potatoes are rich in starch, dietary fiber, carotene, vitamins A, B, C, E, as well as more than ten trace elements such as potassium, iron, copper, selenium, calcium, and linoleic acid, making them highly nutritious. Nutritionists regard them as one of the most balanced health foods. These nutrients help maintain vascular elasticity and are very effective in preventing age-related...
Octagonal Pumpkin: There are many pumpkins in Zichang, but the octagonal pumpkin stands out for its superior flavor and quality, especially those grown in red clay soil. With deep ridges and a tough rind, thick flesh and minimal pulp, it is sticky, sweet, and refreshingly delicious.