Ancient black pottery originated during the “Qiao Shan Culture” era over five thousand years ago. Historical records indicate that pottery-making was first invented by a master craftsman named Ning Feng, who served near the Yellow Emperor (Xuan Yuan). It was anciently referred to as Xuan Yuan Black Pottery and boasts a long history. Currently, our county has developed the “Xuan Yuan” brand of black pottery products, encompassing six major categories and over sixty varieties…
Cured pork is a traditional specialty of the people in areas such as the Luohe River Valley and Fucun River Valley in Ganquan County. It has been passed down from ancient times to the present, though the exact origin remains unknown. In the lunar month of December, as the New Year approaches, rural families slaughter a pig. After setting aside enough meat for Spring Festival meals and preserving the head, feet, and offal, the remaining meat is cured in varying amounts depending on the household’s needs, to be consumed in the coming year. The curing process for pork is divided into…
Like the rest of northern Shaanxi, Ganquan County has an age-old tradition of pickling sour cabbage. The story of sour cabbage brings back a tear-jerking memory. In 1970, Chen Shipu, head of the Ganquan County Revolutionary Committee, accompanied the Sacred Land Reporting Delegation to Beijing. After being received by Premier Zhou Enlai in the Great Hall of the People, he asked with concern about the living conditions of the people in Yan’an. The atmosphere suddenly became heavy, and no one knew how to respond. After a long pause, Chen Shipu cautiously answered, “Pardon me for speaking plainly, Premier, but life is quite hard for many people in Yan’an. Back when you and Chairman Mao were here, every household had three jars of grain and one jar of pickles. Now they have three jars of pickles but less than one jar of grain.” Premier Zhou, with tears in his eyes, said, “It’s been 21 years since the founding of the People’s Republic, and we have let down the people of Yan’an. Pickled sour cabbage and millet rice nurtured the people of Yan’an, nurtured the Party Central Committee, and nurtured the Chinese revolution.” In 1973, during his inspection tour of Yan’an, Premier Zhou pointed out, “Change the face of Yan’an in three years, double its output in five.” This story illustrates the special status and significance of sour cabbage.
Ganquan tofu and dried tofu were originally made using ordinary soybeans. Since the 1980s, they have been produced using the famous premium soybean variety Shuangqingdou (Green Rolling Bean) from Yan’an City. Soybeans are native to China and have been cultivated for over five thousand years. The "Encyclopedia of China: Biology" states: “Among leguminous crops, soybeans have the highest protein content…”
Ganquan Yellow Wine is meticulously brewed using the region’s naturally pristine spring water from Ganquan County and the soft millet unique to the Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi, combined with traditional techniques. Yellow wine is the most nutritious alcoholic beverage in the world, with its general nutritional indicators being 3–5 times that of wine and 8–10 times that of beer. It is widely recognized as the “liquid …
Lao Mountain free-range chicken eggs are a specialty of Laoshan Township, Ganquan County, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province. As one of the four renowned local food brands of Ganquan, these eggs have in recent years made strong inroads onto urban dining tables with their excellent quality, gaining immense popularity in both urban and broader markets. Outsiders call them “reassuring eggs,” while local farmers refer to them as golden eggs that help build a prosperous life...
Mix flour with oil until even, roll it into a long sheet, then roll up and press into wells. Stuff with a prepared filling, place in an oven, and bake by turning repeatedly until cooked. It is characterized by being flaky, fragrant, and sweet. Depending on the filling, it can be divided into date fruit-filled pastry, candy fruit-filled pastry, and red bean paste fruit-filled pastry. Fruit-filled pastries are available at hotels, restaurants, snack shops, and night markets. …
Shuanglong Town in Huangling County is located 45 kilometers west of the county seat, covering a total area of 960 square kilometers. It borders Diantou Town to the east, connects to Zhengning County in Gansu Province to the west, neighbors Xunyi County to the south, and adjoins Fu County to the north. Shuanglong Town has been actively exploring the cultivation of black fungus. In line with the principle of “diversifying farmers’ income” and guided by market demand, the town has focused on key areas such as Nanyukou, Beigou...
Huangling Flower Bread, commonly known as flower steamed buns, is a traditional folk ceremonial bread popular in the rural areas of Huangling. It is renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship and unique designs. Huangling Flower Bread holds strong representative significance in the local folk culture, serving as a means to pass down and promote the fine traditional virtues of the Chinese nation, such as gratitude and respect for the elderly and love for children. Every year during the Qingming Festival…
Fuxian County in northern Shaanxi (formerly known as Fuzhou) has long been reputed as “a land where all kinds of grains thrive, even when other regions fail,” and was once the site of the Zhiluo Campaign. The Hulu River Valley town of Zhiluo is known as the “Little Jiangnan of the Frontier” and the “Little Central Shaanxi Plain of Northern Shaanxi.” Zhiluo Tribute Rice comes from...
Fuxian is known as the "Hometown of Apples" and one of the "World’s Best Apple-Growing Regions." The apples produced here are famed for their excellent color, aroma, and taste. They are of high quality, beautifully shaped, large and uniform in size, clean-skinned, brightly colored, crisp and dense in flesh, and high in sugar content (2%–3% higher than apples from other regions). They are sweet, delicious, moderately firm...
The geographical indication certification trademark "Fuxian Oil Cake" has been officially registered and approved by the National Trademark Office. The successful registration of this trademark marks the first-ever geographical indication certification trademark for Fuxian County. The geographical indication certification trademark "Fuxian Oil Cake" was approved in June 2010 by the county government's executive meeting, funded by the government, and applied for by the...
In Yan'an and throughout Shaanxi, every restaurant table will have a dish of Spicy Stir-Fried Peppers. The Yan'an version looks oily and fragrant, with a flavor suited for those who enjoy spicy food. In Shaanxi, the status of Spicy Stir-Fried Peppers is very high — whether a dish includes them has become a mark of whether it's truly authentic Shaanxi cuisine…
Sweet potatoes are rich in starch, dietary fiber, carotene, vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as more than ten kinds of trace elements such as potassium, iron, copper, selenium, and calcium, along with linoleic acid. They are highly nutritious and are regarded by nutritionists as one of the most balanced health foods. These nutrients help maintain vascular elasticity and are very effective in preventing age-related...
Soft Momo: The main ingredients are soft millet flour or bean paste. Its production process involves milling, fermenting, and then steaming. First, the soft millet is milled or ground into flour using a millstone or flour mill, then sifted through a fine sieve. A portion (about one quarter) of the flour is scalded with boiling water to form a relatively firm dough, which is then steamed in a basket or pot for about 40 minutes…
Jiaotuan is a rustic dish from the Western Shaanxi region. To make a good jiaotuan, you need 72 stirs. Making jiaotuan isn’t difficult, but it’s very labor-intensive — you hold the flour in one hand and a rolling pin in the other, pouring the flour evenly into a pot of boiling water while continuously stirring until there’s no dry flour left. Then you pour in a certain amount of boiling water and use the rolling pin to divide the mixture into chunks. ...
During festivals and when entertaining guests, it’s customary to eat Sausage Noodles. The so-called "sausage" refers to pork that has been simmered in a pot with Sichuan peppercorns, soy sauce, chili, salt, and vegetable oil, then stored in a jar to marinate for a period of time. The meat is finely chopped—the lean parts are chewy and flavorful, while the fatty parts are rich but not greasy, melting in your mouth and leaving oil on the lips. When eating...
As a traditional folk snack, ear muffs are one of the beloved specialty foods among the locals in our county. They are also the top choice for entertaining relatives and guests. Today, let’s take a look at how to make these healthy and delicious ear muffs. In our county, many people can make ear muffs by hand, and they’re especially skilled at it. Li Fangfang, who lives in Xizhaizi Village, Longfang Town…
In the northern Shaanxi dialect, "minjie" is pronounced as "minjiēr," with the "jie" sound being rhotacized, hence it is also written as "minjian." The dough used for minjie is made from a mixture of peas and wheat. The prepared dough is placed on a specially designed minjie press with a densely perforated surface, and then pressed down with the palm of the hand to form one-inch-long twisted sections. When served, the minjie is boiled in a pot...
Huangling Oil Cake The Huangling Oil Cake Association describes the Huangling Oil Cake as round as a pancake, shaped like a drum, colored like bronze, and fragrant to the nose. The Huangling Oil Cake is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sweet, fragrant, and delicious. It is made from locally sourced soft millet flour and edible oil in Huangling. The main ingredients are Huangling’s local soft millet flour and cooking oil. The production process involves milling, fermenting, and then deep-frying—meaning...