Origin: Shaanxi Province. The Guanzhong Dairy Goat is a high-generation hybrid group developed through years of crossbreeding between local indigenous or mixed-breed goats distributed in the Guanzhong Plain of Shaanxi and the Xinong Saanen Dairy Goat. It is an intermediate group between the indigenous goat and the Xinong Saanen Dairy Goat. This breed was officially recognized and named in 1990 by the national authorities…
Embroidery, commonly known as needlework or embroidery stitching, is traditionally regarded as the foremost skill among women's handicrafts. In the old days, girls were expected to learn embroidery by the age of thirteen or fourteen. For brides, embroidered pillows, shoes, and belly bands were essential items to showcase in their dowries. The Chunhua County Embroidery Factory brings together the best of local embroidery traditions, employing dozens of skilled female embroiderers who demonstrate masterful techniques, innovative patterns, and a wealth of expertise. The factory supplies products to the local market and enjoys strong sales beyond the county. Its offerings primarily consist of decorative household essentials such as bedspreads, bed curtains, quilt covers, pillowcases, door curtains, and tablecloths. The designs feature birds and insects, plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, chrysanthemums, fruits, vegetables, as well as opera characters. Techniques are divided into three categories: straight-line embroidery, suspended-line embroidery, and machine embroidery. Stitching methods include even stitch, laid stitch, running stitch, flat stitch, layered flat stitch, layered running stitch, hole cutting, appliqué, and eyelet piercing. With beauty and practicality in every piece, these items are both affordable and high-quality—making them the perfect choice for adding charm to everyday life.
Distinctive Quality The Chunhua specialty héle (buckwheat noodles) is a traditional handmade noodle craft from Chunhua County. This technique has been included in the first batch of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Xianyang City. The making of buckwheat noodles in Chunhua County boasts a long history, dating back as early as the Yuan Dynasty. The production process includes flour milling, dough preparation, pressing, cooking chili oil,…
Peppercorns are warm in nature and have the effects of warming the middle energizer, dispelling cold, removing dampness, relieving pain, and killing insects. Moderate consumption in spring helps stimulate the body's yang energy.…
Xixiang Pineflower Century Egg, produced in Xixiang County in southern Shaanxi, is a uniquely flavored traditional specialty of Shaanxi and can be regarded as one of the finest pineflower century eggs in China. The characteristics of Xixiang’s century egg are: the egg easily separates from the shell, making it simple to remove; when shaken, it gives a slight wobble; once peeled, it is glossy, translucent, and tea-brown in color, resembling amber and having an elastic texture, with beautiful crystalline pine-like patterns covering the surface; the yolk is slightly soft in the center, with a dark crystal-like outer ring and a vibrant orange-red interior that shines with oiliness, featuring distinct layers; it has just the right balance of saltiness, a tender and delicate texture, smooth and refreshing taste, and an unforgettable aftertaste. As a result, there is a local saying: “No feast is complete without pineflower century eggs.” Legend has it that preserved eggs first originated near Taihu Lake, where ducks gathered in large numbers. Hundreds of years ago, in a market town by the lake, a family built a new house, leaving an unfilled lime pit behind it. Ducks returning from the lake at night began laying eggs in this pit. Over time, the owner discovered them, cracked them open, and found that both the egg white and yolk had solidified with pine needle-like patterns. Upon tasting, though somewhat astringent, they had a delicious and unique flavor. He thought that mixing some salt into the lime might eliminate the astringency and enhance the taste. After repeated trials, he succeeded, naming them “Hucai Eggs,” which became very popular. As a result, it became common practice among the people to make preserved eggs using lime, salt, tea leaves, and mulberry wood ash as supplementary ingredients.
Also known as "Qin Pepper," it is a specialty of the county, characterized by its intense spiciness, evenly spaced wrinkles, slender pod shape, bright red color, and the ability to float in soup. Historical records from the 32nd year of the Guangxu reign in the Qing Dynasty (1906) indicate that around 80,000 to 90,000 jin were sold outside the region annually. Before the founding of the People’s Republic of China, pepper cultivation was mainly distributed in the lower plateau areas, with fewer plantings in the middle and upper plateaus, and was primarily for local consumption. ...
A traditional snack from Chunhua County, Shaanxi Province. In Chunhua, there are certain customs surrounding eating HéLè noodles: they are a must for breakfast when hosting guests during weddings or funerals, yet locals avoid eating them during the Lunar New Year; however, after the second day of the New Year, if guests come over and the gathering is large, HéLè noodles are served, but not when the group is small. That said, it's customary here for close friends and relatives to prearrange mutual New Year visit dates, often resulting in groups of a dozen or even twenty dropping by at once—so serving HéLè noodles to guests remains common during the holiday season. The HéLè noodles in Chunhua are made without removing the outer skin, giving them a dark color, as the local rhyme goes: “Though I may look black, I’m still fit to serve guests.” Most HéLè noodles in Chunhua are made from buckwheat flour and served with mutton soup, a dish commonly referred to as “Mutton Soup with HéLè Noodles.” Eating this dish carries a style reminiscent of sauced noodles.
Sweet Spring Premium Liquor is a specialty of Chunhua County, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province. It features the style characteristics of Fengxiang aroma-type liquor, renowned for its unique taste that is “mellow on entry and sweet on the finish.” The product is exported to Anhui, Henan, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, and other regions, consistently performing well in the market. Shaanxi Chunhua County Sweet Spring Liquor Industry Co., Ltd. is located in...
Chunhua Hele Noodles, also known as Chunhua Buckwheat Hele Noodles or simply Buckwheat Hele Noodles. Hele (饸饹): The correct pronunciation is hé·le, but in the local dialect it is pronounced huó·luo. Chunhua’s specialty Hele noodles are a traditional folk handicraft involving the handmade production of buckwheat hele noodles, which has been included in the first batch of...
Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, the area grew local varieties of garlic such as Huosuan (used for garlic sprouts or early garlic scapes) and the purple-skinned Huosuan from Caijiapo, mainly for self-consumption. These were grown sporadically, with only one crop per year. After the founding of the PRC, due to the policy of “grain as the key link,” garlic cultivation remained limited. The main producing areas included the townships (towns) of Xuegu, Puji Street, Changning, Beiyings, Dazhuang, and Xiaocun...
A traditional snack from the Guanzhong region of Shaanxi. Preparation: Grind refined salt, alum, and baking soda into a fine powder, add 40°C water and stir briefly, then mix in flour with your hands. Let it rest, then fold the dough once. Repeat this folding process a total of three times over about 10 minutes until the dough has rested and is ready to use. Mince lean pork and mix in refined salt, soy sauce, …
Xianyang Amber Sugar is one of the Four Famous Sugars of Guanzhong (Xianyang Amber Sugar, Sanyuan Liuhua Sugar, Yao County Snowflake Sugar, Fuping Qiongguo Sugar). Its origins can be traced back to the Qin Dynasty, and it has been passed down and developed for over two thousand years. It is a unique, premium local delicacy exclusive to the Xianyang region. Due to historical reasons, it disappeared from the market for nearly 40 years. The production technique of Xianyang Amber Sugar...
Qindu sweet potatoes are a specialty of Qindu District in Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province. Located on the Guanzhong Plain with a mild climate, the district has nearly 20,000 mu of sweet potato planting area, yielding nearly 200,000 tons per year. The "Mangyuanhong" brand, known for being pollution-free, having high starch yield, and producing high-quality starch, enjoys a strong reputation across Shaanxi and even the entire northwest region. Qindu sweet potatoes are a nationally protected geographical indication agricultural product...
Qin Town rice noodles are named after their origin in Qinpu Town, Huxian County. Qinpu Town is a famous historic town in the Guanzhong region of Shaanxi. The *Gu Jin Tu Shu Ji Cheng* (Comprehensive Collection of Illustrations and Writings from the Earliest to Current Times) records: “Qinpu was the ancient site of Feng, located on the west bank of the Feng River, where the old city of Feng once stood.” This town is also known as “Zhoufeng Palace,” and about five li north of the town lies the “Spirit Terrace of King Wen of Zhou.” In 401 AD, …
New Year’s Cake – A Spring Festival Food During the Spring Festival, many regions across China have the custom of eating New Year’s Cake. Also known as “年年糕” (nián nián gāo), it is a homophone for “年年高” (nián nián gāo), symbolizing that people’s work and life improve year after year. As a food item, New Year’s Cake has a long history in China. In 1974, archaeologists unearthed rice seeds at the Hemudu site of the maternal clan society in Yuyao, Zhejiang...
One of the finest pomegranate varieties in China. Also known as Daye Tianhongdan, it is currently one of the best fruiting varieties of large red pomegranates in the country and may be an elite variant of the Jingpi Sweet Pomegranate. This variety features vigorous tree growth, cold resistance, drought tolerance, disease resistance, a large semi-round canopy, and thick branches. Multi-year-old branches are grayish-brown, and the leaves are large, …
Shepherd's Purse Spring Rolls are favored for their wafer-thin, translucent, and crispy wrappers, along with fillings that carry the fresh fragrance of shepherd's purse. They are a traditional and famous snack in Xi'an. These spring rolls evolved from the "Spring Platter" of the Tang Dynasty and the forms seen in the Song Dynasty. The phrase "Spring Platter with fine greens and shepherd's purse pancakes to welcome spring" refers to this tradition. Spring rolls originated from the Tang Dynasty’s “Spring Platter” and the Song Dynasty’s…
The cultivation and curing techniques of Wugong tobacco leaves originated in the 14th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1888). During the Republican era, they were grown on both the upper and lower plateaus, mostly for personal consumption. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Sufang, Youfeng, and Wugong Town became the main production areas of tobacco leaves in the county, with scattered planting also occurring in places such as Daijia, Zhenyuan, Changning, and Hedao. From 1949 to…
Qihua Noodles in Wugong Town is a type of noodle dish. Made with high-quality flour, the noodles are fine and long, served in a broth made with pork and chicken, and garnished with egg pancakes, daylily buds, and scallion whites. The sour flavor stands out, making it a traditional local favorite, also known as "One-Bite Delight" or Qihua Noodles. It is generally served to honored guests and mainly...
Pují Roast Chicken has a history of nearly 50 years. It boasts excellent color and flavor, is rich but not greasy, and is tender and crispy—making it quite famous. The well-known Pují Roast Chicken originated with a man from Henan, Guo Zhiping. During the Anti-Japanese War in 1940, to escape the turmoil of war, he fled with his family, carrying only a shoulder pole and two baskets, and settled in Pují Town, Wugong County, Shaanxi Province, staying with a friend...