Shenmu in Shaanxi Province is a major and advantageous production area for black beans, with a long planting history that once set a record of 500,000 mu under cultivation. In recent years, although affected by industrial restructuring and urbanization, the annual planting area has remained stable at around 300,000 mu. The main local varieties of black beans include Jiyao Bai and Lianjia Tiao. In 2012…
Shenmu Meat Sheep is a specialty of Shenmu County in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province. Shenmu is a traditional region combining agriculture and animal husbandry, with 265,000 head of meat sheep, generating an industry output value of 793 million yuan. Since the 1990s, Shenmu has introduced Small-tailed Han Sheep, and after 2000, successively brought in Suffolk, Dorset, Texel…
Divine Wood Braised Pork is a specialty dish from Shenmu County, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province. The braised pork boasts a rich red hue, fragrant aroma, tender and succulent texture that remains intact yet soft. It’s known for its intense, mellow flavor—often praised as “the fatty part melts in your mouth without greasiness, while the lean part is juicy and oil-rich.” As a classic dish, it primarily uses pork as the main ingredient, along with scallions, ginger, refined salt, and other seasonings…
Shenmu red dates are a specialty of Shenmu County, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province. Shenmu red dates are known for their large size, small pits, thin skin, thick flesh, crisp texture, long fibers, juicy and sweet taste, rich and mellow aroma, high sugar content, bright red color, low moisture, and long shelf life. The southern towns of Shenmu County have prospered through non-coal industries, including those along the Yellow River such as Mazhen, Shamao, Hejia...
Stewed Lamb: Made from high-quality locally sourced beef and lamb, it boasts a pure and delicious taste, free from any gamey flavor, and is known for its nourishing and beautifying properties. It is truly one of the most representative local dishes.…
Shenmu Coal Shenmu in Shaanxi Province is the coal accumulation center of the Shenfu Jurassic Coalfield. The county has a coal-bearing area of over 4,500 square kilometers, accounting for 60% of its total area, with proven reserves exceeding 50 billion tons. The geological structure of the coal seams is simple, the deposits are stable, the seams are shallow, and the coal is easy to extract. The coal quality is excellent, characterized by ultra-low ash, ultra-low phosphorus, ultra-low sulfur, high calorific value...
A famous snack from Shenmu. Mung bean starch mixed with water is blended with alum water using a brush. Once the water in the pot boils, pour the starch mixture into the pot and quickly stir with a wooden spatula until the paste becomes translucent and glossy. Remove from heat and pour onto a greased large cutting board, then scrape into thin sheets with a wooden scraper. After cooling, cut into small pieces and roll them up. When serving, slice into thin strips, add seasonings, …
Boiled Fish in Hongjiannao: Made with locally sourced carp and cooked in the water of Hongjiannao, it has a delicious taste and is rich in nutrients—this dish is a must-try when visiting Hongjiannao.…
Shenmu in Shaanxi is the coal accumulation center of the Shenfu Jurassic Coalfield. The county has a coal-bearing area of over 4,500 square kilometers, accounting for 60% of its total area, with proven reserves exceeding 50 billion tons. The geological structure of the coal seams is simple, the deposits are stable, the depth is shallow, and the coal is easy to extract. The coal quality is excellent, characterized by ultra-low ash, ultra-low phosphorus, ultra-low sulfur, high calorific value, and high...
Jujubes are one of the renowned traditional and high-quality specialties of Shaanxi, well-known both in China and abroad. They are characterized by their large size, small pits, thin skins, thick flesh, crisp texture, long fibers, juicy and sweet taste, rich and mellow flavor, high sugar content, bright red color, low moisture, and long shelf life...…
Salty fried dough twists have a history of over two thousand years in China. They originated alongside the ancient “Cold Food Festival,” also known as “Hanju.” Legend has it that they were created in memory of Jie Zitui from the Spring and Autumn Period. The Xi’an version of these twists resembles a wooden fence, boasts a golden color, features fine and hollow strands, makes a crisp sound when chewed, and is as flaky as freshly fallen snow. They are not only a flavorful snack but also a delicacy served at banquets...
Caragana, also known as small-leaved peashrub, beefwood, or snow hollow, is an excellent shrub species native to the Loess Plateau and desert regions of Yulin. It serves as high-quality fodder, fertilizer, fuel, weaving material, and a sand-fixing and soil-conserving plant. Caragana in Yulin is a locally cultivated, widely planted native tree species across various counties in the region. It accounts for about 30%–50% of the forested area in northern Shaanxi...
Yulin Jujubes are one of the renowned traditional and high-quality specialties of Shaanxi, famous both in China and abroad. They are characterized by their large size, small pits, thin skins, thick flesh, crisp texture, long fruit strands, abundant juice, sweet taste, mellow and fragrant flavor, high sugar content, bright red color, low moisture, long storage life, and excellent quality. Truly, “their sweetness surpasses even rock honey, and their crimson hue outshines red cherries,” offering a perfect combination of color, aroma...
Licorice gets its name from its naturally sweet taste. It is also known as sweet grass, sweet root, powdered licorice, or raw licorice, among other aliases. In ancient medical texts, it is referred to by even more varied names — in *Supplement to the Materia Medica*, it is called honey-sweet, honey-grass, dew-grass, or “the elder statesman.” In *Records of Notable Events*, it is named Ling Tong. All these names are related to the sweet flavor of licorice. But why is it also called “the elder statesman”? The Southern Dynasties physician Tao…
On the magnificent and prosperous loess plateau of Yulin, one often sees herders with heads wrapped in sheepskin headscarves, wielding sheep whips, and humming folk tunes like Xintianyou. Most of them wear exquisitely crafted wool felt vests adorned with beautifully embroidered patterns in the center — this is the richly rural Yulin felt embroidery. Yulin felt...
Cold noodles are one of the distinctive local snacks in Northern Shaanxi. Those made from mung bean starch are called "mung bean cold noodles," those made from hyacinth bean starch are called "hyacinth bean cold noodles," those made from potato starch are called "potato cold noodles," and those made from buckwheat grits are called "buckwheat cold noodles." Among them, the mung bean cold noodles from Zichang County are considered the finest, with a tender…
On the southeastern edge of the Mu Us Desert, in the northernmost part of Yulin City, Shaanxi Province, lies a transitional zone resembling both desert and grassland. From spring onward, when the first sprouts of green break through the soil, they bring renewed hope to all living things that call this place home. They are deeply connected to this land, not only reaping hope from the gravel plains but also preserving their livelihoods amid the wilderness…
Renowned both at home and abroad, Yulin Tofu is known for its snow-white, tender, and delicate texture, delicious flavor, rich nutrition, and affordability, making it the top local dish of Yulin. Visitors from afar consider tasting Yulin Tofu a delightful experience. Yulin Tofu has a long history. As far back as the Ming Dynasty, the ancient city of Yulin was one of the nine key frontier towns along the Great Wall. With the expansion of the city…
A traditional snack from Yulin, Shaanxi. Made with soy milk, eggs, and mung bean starch, it is prepared by frying. The process involves taking thick soy milk in a bowl, cracking an egg into it, then adding a mung bean starch paste and stirring until well mixed to form egg-soy milk. Heat a wok over a flame, add soy milk and sugar, and bring to a boil over high heat. Slowly pour in the prepared egg-soy milk...
Rich in high-quality protein and essential fatty acids, it also provides heme (organic iron) and cysteine that promote iron absorption, helping to improve iron-deficiency anemia. Caution is advised for those with damp-heat and phlegm stagnation; overweight individuals and those with high blood lipids should not eat too much. It has a sweet and salty taste, neutral nature, and affects the spleen, stomach, and kidney meridians; it nourishes kidney and blood, enriches yin and moistens…