Ningqiang Large Chestnuts are a specialty of Ningqiang County in Ankang City, Shaanxi Province. While chestnuts are produced in various counties across the Qinba Mountainous Region in southern Shaanxi, those from Ningqiang are the most renowned. The chestnuts here are of superior variety, known for their plump grains, easily peelable astringent skins, sweet and fragrant taste, and rich nutrition. While chestnuts are produced in various counties across the Qinba Mountainous Region in southern Shaanxi, those from Ningqiang…
Qinba Wild Boar Meat — The Qinba mountainous region of southern Shaanxi lies at the junction of northern and southern China, where wild boars are so abundant that they become a menace, frequently destroying crops. Wild boar meat is very low in fat, has thin skin, fragrant flesh, and is exceptionally delicious. The Qinba mountainous area in southern Shaanxi is located at the crossroads of northern and southern China, boasting rich biodiversity with a wide variety of flora and fauna, as well as abundant food resources. In particular, the region's local folk snacks, rural specialty dishes...
In the past three decades, the konjac industry in Langao County has experienced three booms and two busts. The planting area has expanded from less than 2,000 acres to the current 80,000 acres, with an annual output value of 220 million yuan and an average per capita income of 1,420 yuan for konjac farmers. The industry has shifted from scattered, extensive cultivation to large-scale, intensive operations, forming the preliminary framework of an industrialized management system and entering a fast track of sustainable and cyclical development.
Kangkang Mo, also known as sesame cake, is a round or rectangular baked flatbread. The round ones resemble a full moon and are called "round Kangkang," about the size of a bowl rim, thicker at the edges and thinner in the center; the long ones resemble spirit tablets and are called "long Kangkang." The surface of Kangkang Mo is covered with sesame seeds—those with sesame on one side are called "one-sided sesame," and those with sesame on both sides are called "two-sided sesame." Every inch or so on the bread, there are…
Slice the konjac thinly, then drizzle with chili oil, monosodium glutamate, garlic juice, and vinegar. It has a smooth and refreshing taste that surpasses even cold jelly noodles. Alternatively, stir-fry it with pickled vegetables for a tangy and spicy flavor with a unique twist. You can also air-dry it until semi-dry and cook it with meat — the result is a dish that’s bursting with color, aroma, and taste, making your appetite soar. …
This dish is made using the stir-frying method, featuring a savory, spicy, tender, and fragrant taste. It is smooth, richly flavored, elegantly refined, and has a long-lasting aftertaste. Seasonal in nature, it is available mainly after the second day of the second lunar month in spring when eels flood the market. The tenderness of its meat can rival that of the carp from Hankou. …
The five-flavor fruit in Yunwu Mountain, of course, shares the same complex and particularly stimulating taste as those found in the main Qinling Mountain range it borders. The wulidou is a wild fruit that ripens in early autumn. It grows on woody vines, forming clusters and hanging in bunches, densely packed and abundant. As the five-flavor fruit transitions from green to its ripe purplish-red hue, it attracts the attention of local mountain dwellers who come to pick it. It…
The "Mulberry Twig Health Mushroom," developed and produced by the Mulberry Twig Edible Fungus Production Center in Chishi Town, Shiquan County, enjoys reputations such as "Food of the Gods" and "King of Mountain Delicacies." Its raw material is mulberry twigs, making it a green and healthy food. In Chishi Town, large areas are planted with mulberry trees for silkworm breeding, and it is a pity that most of the mulberry twigs are burned. Now, they have been turned into...
Zhongba Ginkgo (wild ginkgo). Zhongba Township is widely known as the "Hometown of Ginkgo" in the county, producing 20 tons of ginkgo annually—all naturally grown wild ginkgo. Among them, the ginkgo from Huangcunba is the most famous. During our investigation in Huangcunba, we found over 200 ginkgo trees aged over 300 years, and two thousand-year-old ginkgo trees...
Shiquan Five-Spice Dried Tofu is produced in Erliqiao Village on the outskirts of the city. In this village, there is a clear spring in Shuijingwan that stays warm in winter and cool in summer. Using this spring water to make five-spice dried tofu began during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, over 150 years ago. Shiquan dried tofu has a light yellow or reddish-brown color, a delicate texture with fibrous strands and elasticity, shiny crystals,...
Medicinal Materials: According to surveys, the region has 1,215 species of plant materials, 57 species of animal materials, and 27 species of mineral materials. Currently, over 600 types of medicinal materials are utilized, with a significant quantity and high value. Notable plant materials include Eucommia bark, Coptis root, Codonopsis root, Gastrodia elata, Magnolia bark, Chinese angelica, dried tangerine peel, rhubarb, schisandra fruit, Phellodendron bark, and Scrophularia.
The Shaannan White Goat is a local breed originating from southern Shaanxi Province, known for its good meat production performance. It is mainly distributed in counties along the Han River in southern Shaanxi, including Ankang, Ziyang, Xunyang, Baibo, Xixiang, Zhenba, Pingli, Luonan, Shanyang, and Zhen'an.
Lan'ao cured meat is a specialty of Lan'ao County, Ankang City, Shaanxi Province. The dried Lan'ao cured meat features bright color, delicious taste, rich nutrition, convenient portability, and suits all ages. It is a long-renowned traditional delicacy in Shaanxi and is deeply loved by consumers. Lan'ao County Cured Meat Products Co., Ltd. is located in the southern part of the Qinba Mountain area, where the climate is mild, rainfall is abundant, and the environment is notably rich in zinc…
Red Fragrant Tribute Rice is grown in “Imperial Fields” at Gujia Village, Guanyuan Town, Langao County, Shaanxi Province. The village is known for its rice production, and among its paddy fields—nearly 100 acres of which have unique location, water quality, and soil conditions—a special type of rice is produced. Its grains are jujube-red in color, soft and delicious when cooked, with a rich aroma. When cooked in a hanging pot, the grains remain upright without collapsing. Locals call this rice “Red Fragrant Rice.”…
Guantian Tribute Rice is a specialty of Guantian Village in Yinqiao Township. There are two varieties of Guantian Tribute Rice: Wujiaozhan and Yelicang. Wujiaozhan plants are about 95 cm tall, with panicles around 30 cm long, sparse grains, slender stalks, narrow leaves, and purplish-black bases on the stems. Yelicang plants are about 90 cm tall, with panicles approximately...
Wild Bamboo Shoots – known in ancient times as "Tribute Bamboo Shoots," these were sent annually to the imperial court. The wild bamboo shoots from this region are tender and delicate, with a pure white color, thin shells, thick flesh, and extremely rich nutrition. According to measurements, every 100 grams of wild bamboo shoots contains 3,300 milligrams of amino acids, twice the carotene content of double mushrooms, and two times the vitamin content of mangoes…
Steamed bowl dishes are relatively simple to prepare, and almost any type of meat can be used. Typically, a few suitable side vegetables are placed at the bottom of the bowl, followed by seasoned meat on top. The bowl is then steamed until cooked and set aside. When serving, the steamed meat is topped with chicken broth, ginger, and shredded scallions, and then the steamed bowl is carefully inverted into the serving bowl. The result is a richly flavored dish with clear broth and tender meat...
Golden Silk Quilts — The Source of Silk, Hometown of Golden Silkworms. As early as the Qin and Han dynasties, the cultivation of mulberry trees and silkworms thrived in Shiquan County, Shaanxi Province. While it is widely known that the ancient Silk Road leading west to Europe started in Chang’an, where exactly is the source of silk? To honor the development of the sericulture industry, Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty bestowed the sacred artifact “Gilded Silkworm” (a national first-class relic) in the year...
The firethorn berries dot the forests of Yunwu Mountain like girls in red dresses playing hide-and-seek among the trees. The fruits, only as big as soybeans and round in shape, grow in dense clusters. In autumn, when the firethorns ripen, they turn a bright, vivid red—especially dazzling under the sunlight...
Chief Yu of the Wild Yangmei has long worked in towns and villages around Yunwu Mountain and is very familiar with its natural terrain. He especially enjoys picking wild fruits from the mountains and has a particular fondness for the wild fruits of Yunwu Mountain. He pointed out to me some small fruits on a tree, reached up, picked one, and handed it to me, saying: “This is wild yangmei. Try it, it tastes really good.” This wild…