Laogao, also known as jiuniang, jiujiang, jiuzao, rice wine, sweet wine, sweet rice wine, glutinous rice wine, Jiangmi wine, or fu zhi jiu, is a flavored food made from glutinous rice or regular rice through yeast fermentation. It is high in calories and rich in carbohydrates, protein, B vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients required by the human body...
Among the local snacks of Shaanxi, "liangpi" (cold skin noodles) is one of the most popular. It's loved by people of all ages, especially young women, and is sold year-round, with even more demand in the summer. In Qianyang, you can find liangpi vendors on every street corner, in every town, and even in rural areas. A simple setup of a table and a few small stools makes for a complete liangpi stand. Wherever it's sold, people come to eat it. With its soft, slippery texture, tangy and spicy flavor, and refreshing taste that stimulates the appetite, liangpi is not just a street food — it has also made its way onto more refined dining tables. At major restaurants, eateries, and hotels in Qianyang, liangpi is an essential item in both regular Shaanxi snack offerings and specialized Shaanxi snack banquets.
Jiaotuan is a rustic dish from the Xi’feng region. To make a good jiaotuan, you must stir it 72 times. Making jiaotuan isn’t difficult, but it’s very labor-intensive: one hand holds the flour while the other wields a rolling pin. The flour is poured evenly into a pot of boiling water while stirring continuously until there’s no dry flour left. Then, a certain amount of boiling water is added, and the mixture is stirred with the rolling pin to form clumps. …
Qianyang Peach Blossom Rice, a rare and renowned local rice variety. Translated name: TAO HUA MI, family: Gramineae (Poaceae), genus: Oryza L. (rice genus), scientific name: Oryza sativa L.spp.hsien …
Walnuts have high medicinal value and are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. According to ancient Chinese medicine, walnuts are warm in nature, sweet in taste, and non-toxic, with benefits such as improving digestion, enriching blood, moistening lungs, and nourishing the spirit. The "Shennong Bencao Jing" (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) classifies walnuts as a top-grade tonic that can help lighten the body, boost qi, and promote longevity when taken over time. Meng Shen of the Tang Dynasty, in his book "Shiliao Bencao" (Dietotherapy Materia Medica), noted that eating walnut kernels can stimulate the appetite…
Also known as American ginseng, xi yang shen, or American ginseng. Belongs to the Araliaceae family, Panax genus. A perennial herbaceous plant. The whole plant is hairless. The rhizome is shorter than that of ginseng, and the root is fleshy, spindle-shaped, with few branched forms. The stem is cylindrical, about 25 cm long, with longitudinal stripes or slightly angled. Palmately compound leaves with 5 leaflets, usually 3–4 in number, arranged in whorls at the top of the stem; the leaflets...
Tobacco leaves, an annual herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family. The plant is covered in glandular hairs and grows to about 1 meter in height. The leaf petioles are not obvious or form wing-like structures. When touched, the leaves feel sticky. The inflorescence is terminal and conical. The calyx is tubular, and the corolla is funnel-shaped, resembling a bugle with a pink tip. The fruit is a capsule, and the seeds are yellowish-brown. Originally from South America, it is cultivated around the world. Tobacco leaves…
Long County Horse Hoof Cake, also known as Honey Filling Cake, is named for its round shape resembling a horse’s hoof. The recipe and preparation method were originally learned by a local ingenious kitchen assistant from an imperial chef accompanying the emperor, and were later passed on to the public. Main ingredients and preparation method: refined flour, cooked lard, white honey, white sugar, etc. Refined flour is mixed with water and a small amount of lard to make the dough...
Qianyang Peach Blossom Rice is a specialty of Qianyang County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. The "Peach Blossom Rice" of Qianyang gets its name from its color—its grains are peach-red, and when steamed, the rice puffs up at both ends while staying firm in the middle, resembling blooming peach blossoms. The variety of "Peach Blossom Rice" planted in Qianyang County was selected as imperial tribute rice during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and up to…
Qianyang carrots are a specialty of Qianyang County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. The “Touxin Hong” (Translucent Red) carrots under the Qianchuan brand are renowned both within and beyond the province for their long, cylindrical roots that are uniformly bright red, fine and smooth cores that are crisp and tender, sweet taste, juicy texture, and rich nutrition. They were awarded the “Houji Golden Statue Award” at the 6th Yangling Agricultural Expo. Qianyang has a long history of…
Qianyang apples are a specialty of Qianyang County in Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. Qianyang is an ideal apple-growing region, blessed with suitable temperatures, abundant sunlight, and significant day-night temperature differences. The apples produced here are bright in color, thin-skinned and crisp, with high sugar content, making them deliciously sweet and highly favored by merchants. Located in the northern part of Baoji, Qianyang County sits in the dry plateau and hilly gully area of northern Weihe River...
Gaoya walnuts are a specialty of Gaoya Town, Qianyang County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. The walnuts produced in Gaoya Town feature thin shells, white kernels, thick meat, and a sweet aftertaste, earning unanimous praise from merchants who come through the area. Though located in a remote area with rugged mountains, deep valleys, and harsh climate, the region is quite suitable for walnut cultivation. The town’s Party committee, aiming to transform the once overlooked...
The making of Qianyang zenggao is highly particular, requiring careful selection of ingredients, the order in which they are added, and precise timing. After steaming for a certain period, the zenggao is mainly simmered. This usually takes several hours so that the sweetness of the beans and dates can fully permeate the rice, resulting in a great texture. Ingredient selection is crucial—the dates should be the large dates from northern Shaanxi,…
[Main Production Areas and Distribution] The Wei River Plain in the Guanzhong region of Shaanxi Province. Baoji City has the largest population, while Liulin County in Long County produces horses of the highest quality. [Formation History] The Guanzhong region serves as an agricultural base. In the early 1950s, both agriculture and transportation required a new type of horse that was larger in size, stronger, and faster, but the local horses at the time were small in stature, with insufficient pulling and speed capabilities. Therefore, it was decided to introduce high-quality stallions to carry out complex crossbreeding with local mares in order to develop a versatile draft and riding horse capable of a normal pulling capacity of 60–75 kg, with a light and quick gait, a speed of 4.5–4.8 km/h, a body weight of over 500 kg, a height of around 152 cm, a well-proportioned structure, a dry and sturdy constitution, and adaptability to the local natural conditions. The breeding of this new horse breed started at the Liulin Tan Stallion Farm in Shaanxi Province, and expanded from there to cover the entire production area. The breeding process unfolded as follows: Starting in 1950, lightweight stallion breeds such as the Anglo-Norman (later renamed Budenny), Karabair, and Soviet Thoroughbred were first used to cross with local mares, producing a group of first-generation improved light horses. These first-generation horses showed significant improvement in various body measurements compared to the local horses. However, their body proportions were less optimal, characterized by a tall, narrow, and short build, a light and quick gait, but insufficient pulling strength. In 1958, large Ardennes stallions were introduced to conduct further complex crossbreeding with the first-generation improved light horses, aiming to enhance body mass and pulling power. The second-generation light mares crossed with Ardennes stallions produced third or fourth generation horses that largely met the original breeding goals in terms of body measurements, conformation, appearance, and working ability. The Kabarda and Ardennes horse breeds played a major role in the development of this new breed. Starting in 1965, horses that met the desired body measurement standards and ideal types—both stallions and mares—were selected, using primarily homogenous matching supplemented by heterogenous pairing, to carry out inbreeding with strict selection criteria to expand the pool of ideal horses. To rapidly improve the overall quality of the horse herd, the Liulin Tan Stallion Farm established a core breeding group, focusing on stallion No. 66-6, which demonstrated stable genetic traits. This stallion was extensively used for breeding over several years, resulting in a horse herd with increasingly consistent body measurements, structural features, and physical characteristics, thus acquiring the traits of a versatile draft and riding horse. From 1970 onward, all mares entered into self-breeding. Horses of different bloodlines were used, prioritizing medium kinship pairings with some instances of close relative breeding, gradually consolidating the desirable genetic traits and achieving overall consistency within the herd. The core breeding group had undergone three or more generations of self-propagation, with the mare herd having an average inbreeding coefficient of 3.38%. The horse population now essentially consists of 12.5% heritage from the original local horse breed, 25.0% from lightweight breeds, and 62.5% from heavy draft breeds. Planned line breeding has since been initiated. Throughout the breeding process, superior feeding and management conditions also played a crucial role. The main method of feeding in the production area is stall feeding, with meticulous management practices. The primary forage includes grain straw, wheat bran, wild hay, and a small amount of wheat straw, supplemented in summer and autumn with alfalfa, wild grasses, and cereal grasses, and in winter with silage corn stalks and dried alfalfa. The ratios of various feeds vary according to the season and production conditions. Concentrated feed mainly consists of barley, peas, black beans, corn, and wheat bran. Foals begin supplemental feeding in separate troughs alongside their mothers after one month of age. Around one year old, they start light work, and formal work begins at two years of age. Pregnant mares are generally not put to work or only given light tasks. The breeding program was guided by a "Guanzhong Horse Breeding Collaboration Group" composed of administrative bodies, academic institutions, research units, and stud farms, which developed the breeding plan. The Liulin Tan Stallion Farm served as the core, with rural areas forming the foundation, continuously expanding the breeding population. Over the course of thirty-plus years, the improved horse herd was continually selected and enhanced. In October 1982, the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Agriculture organized the “Guanzhong Horse Breed Appraisal Group,” which conducted a breed evaluation and acceptance of the Guanzhong horses at the core breeding farm—Liulin Tan Stallion Farm. The evaluation found a qualification rate of 97%, meeting the breeding objectives and confirming the establishment of a new breed, officially named the “Guanzhong Horse.”
Long County chili peppers are a specialty of Long County in Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. Chili pepper cultivation is a traditional and distinctive industry in Long County. The product features slender pods, bright red color, even wrinkles, thick flesh, and a spicy flavor—earning it the reputation as the “King of Qin Chili.” In Long County, where there is a large diurnal temperature variation, crops enjoy a long growing period. Coupled with extensive pollution-free planting areas, the produce enjoys high market recognition...
Long County walnuts are a specialty of Long County in Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. These walnuts are large, meaty, have thin shells, and boast a delicious flavor. Long County has been named the "Hometown of Walnuts in China" by the China Economic Forestry Association. Historically known as Longzhou, the county gets its name from its location on the eastern slopes of the Long Mountains, situated in the westernmost part of Shaanxi Province. Walnuts are one of Long County's traditional and advantageous forest specialties. Among China’s top ten walnut production regions, Long County lies at the heart of four major producing areas: Weinan in northern Shaanxi, the Qinba Mountainous region, Tianshui in Gansu, and Longnan in Gansu—making it part of the optimal core zone for high-quality walnut cultivation. The local specialty, “Longzhou Walnuts,” are large, meaty, have thin shells, and a rich taste. According to test results from the Testing Center of Northwest A&F University and the Food Quality Supervision and Testing Center (Yangling) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Longzhou walnuts are selenium-rich health foods packed with unsaturated fatty acids and protein. In the 1970s, they were listed as a nationally exempted export product. Historical records from the "New Continuation of Longzhou Annals" indicate that walnut planting began manually as early as the second year of the Xuantong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1910), followed by direct seeding of green-shell walnuts in the 1960s–70s, and terrace-edge planting in the 1980s. Since 2002, continuous planting has been implemented. After decades of development, the walnut industry has taken initial shape. Long County is now one of the 12 key walnut economic forest base counties in Shaanxi, a national standardized walnut production demonstration area, and a provincial-level walnut improved variety base county. The “Xiangling” variety of Longzhou walnuts won a gold award at the First China Walnut Festival.
Long County American Ginseng is a specialty of Long County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. Longzhou American Ginseng is a rare and valuable traditional Chinese medicine known for nourishing yin and promoting body fluids. It was first trial-planted in 1979 and has been cultivated on a large scale since 1985. The current cultivation area covers 100,000 square meters, with an annual output of 15,000 kilograms. Long County boasts abundant local specialties and industrial resources, including chili peppers, walnuts, raw lacquer…
Long County Schisandra Chinensis Wine is a specialty of Long County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. Schisandra Chinensis is a rare wild medicinal fruit known for its nourishing properties. It grows at altitudes between 1,500 and 2,500 meters in the pollution-free and unpolluted deep mountains of the Qinling and Longshan ranges, meeting the ecological standards of "green food." Schisandra Chinensis wine is classified as a health-oriented beverage. Shaanxi Shenyun Schisandra Chinensis Winery...
Longxian Sea Buckthorn is a specialty of Longxian County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. The sea buckthorn fruit is rich in vitamin C and known as the "King of Vitamin C," with its juice being a premium beverage. Sea buckthorn resources are widespread across the northern and southern mountainous areas of Longxian County, with an annual yield exceeding 2 million kilograms. The climate and soil conditions in the Guanzhong and Qian Mountain regions within Longxian County are highly suitable for sea buckthorn growth...
Long County oil-spin rolls, crispy flatbreads, and dog-tongue pastries The oil-spin rolls and crispy flatbreads of Long County are also two local specialties. The oil-spin roll is baked in a charcoal-fired oven using leavened dough, rolled up with crushed walnut and peanut bits—fragrant but not greasy, crispy and delicious. The oil-spin roll is about the size of a regular flatbread, thick around the edges and thin in the middle, with the outer ring crisped to a crunch through baking, giving it a very unique flavor...