Cordyceps Steam Pot Chicken Steam Pot Chicken is one of Yunnan’s famous dishes, where the chicken is gradually steamed by steam passing through a central nozzle in the pot. Since the broth is formed from condensed steam, the chicken's umami flavor is largely preserved during the steaming process, maintaining the dish’s original taste. If precious Yunnan-grown medicinal herbs such as cordyceps are added to the pot...
Potato patties are made by washing, boiling, and peeling potatoes, then mashing them into a paste. An appropriate amount of flour is added to form a batter, which is scooped into spoon-shaped molds and deep-fried in hot oil until golden brown and set. Once removed, they take on a round spoon-like shape, thinner at the edges and slightly thicker in the middle. They are then sprinkled with salt, pepper, and chili powder, resulting in a deliciously fragrant, mildly spicy taste with hints of Sichuan peppercorn.
Lijiang Salmon. Lijiang Salmon is not the familiar sea-caught salmon, but rather a highland freshwater salmon that thrives in the glacial meltwater of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, feeding on small fish and shrimp. The water temperature of its habitat must not exceed 15 degrees Celsius. It also demands extremely high water quality, rich in negative oxygen ions. It comes in two types: golden trout salmon...
Water Dragonfly Water Dragonfly refers to the aquatic larvae of dragonflies, which are about the same size as adult dragonflies but without wings. Once deep-fried, they turn golden yellow. They are typically eaten either deep-fried or grilled. With rows of Water Dragonflies neatly arranged on a plate, it takes quite some courage to pick up your chopsticks. …
Diamond-shaped, small white pieces available in two flavors: brown sugar and white sugar. The brown sugar version has a little red dot in the center, making it look adorable. This is a steamed rice-based food—dry and crumbly in the mouth, worry-free for causing internal heat. Five pieces for 1 yuan. The lady who sells the rice cakes never shouts to attract customers; she just pushes her tricycle…
Buns are the most ordinary of things. But in Lijiang, even buns are imbued with an enchanting, aged aroma. Take a closer look, and you’ll find that locals’ breakfast isn’t made up of Lijiang Baba or soybean noodles, but rather everyone holding a big bun. These warm, hefty buns have thick skins and even thicker fillings, costing just five mao each. In the mornings, next to the red shop doors or by the winding stone bridges, you’ll spot…
Like Lianzha Lao, it’s a hearty dish where cured meat, ham, and vegetables are all cooked together in a large clay pot and served hot. It’s delicious and warming. You can eat the solids and drink the broth, and those who prefer stronger flavors can dip with the spicy sauce. If you’re tired of other dishes, choosing the Mixed Pot is the wisest move. Local taxi drivers love to go there together, and the prices are very reasonable — five people can eat for just over 30…
Yunnan Province is rich in marble deposits. The nineteen peaks of the Cangshan Mountain in Dali all contain marble, boasting a wide variety of types, beautiful patterns, and excellent quality, making them quite renowned. Due to the abundant production of this high-quality stone in the region and its long history of distribution across various places, it came to be named after the locality of Dali and elegantly referred to as "Dali marble." Marble is also known as foundation stone, elm stone, literary stone,…
Tie-dye, anciently known as jiaoxie dyeing and commonly called tied-flower cloth, is an ancient hand-printing and dyeing craft. The process of making tie-dye involves the artisan’s artistic craftsmanship, so high-quality tie-dye products can be considered excellent works of art. Dali tie-dye in Yunnan was introduced from the Central Plains and is now mainly produced in areas such as Zhoucheng in Dali, Dacang in Weishan, and Miaojie...
Erkuai is a distinctive local delicacy, and the version found in the Dali area has an especially unique flavor. Early in the morning, as you walk along the streets, you’ll often see small street stalls with a wire mesh placed over a brazier, beneath which glow hot chestnut charcoal embers. The vendor flips over thin white round cakes as they roast—these cook quickly and emit a tempting aroma…
Painting felt is a unique folk handicraft of the Bai people in Jianchuan, mainly produced in areas such as Shanglan, Madeng, and Misha. The crafting process involves an artist using a wooden brush dipped in flour paste to paint on white sheep's felt, which is then boiled and dyed in a large pot containing plant-based pigments such as madder. After cooling, the flour paste is peeled off and the piece is slightly touched up to complete it. The paintings on the felt are simple and elegant,…
Jianchuan has a long history of orchid cultivation. The elegant, pure white, and sweetly fragrant cultivars such as the Small Snow Orchid (Xiao Xue Su) and the Large Snow Orchid (Da Xue Su, also known as the Large Pure Heart) are traditional and locally renowned flowers. In recent years, the newly developed Jianchuan-native lotus-petal orchids have gained fame for their graceful and refined blooms, subtle and far-reaching fragrance, and uniquely rare flower forms. They have won gold awards for several consecutive years at China’s Orchid Expos. Renowned Chinese orchid expert Researcher Wu Yingxiang even inscribed the words “Jianchuan Orchids” in recognition and encouragement. The lotus-petal orchid oddity “Jianyang Butterfly,” produced in Shibaoshan, features distinctly butterfly-shaped side petals, resembling a colorful butterfly—precious and magical—and has received national registration certification. Other varieties that rank among the nation’s famous orchids include Qingqi Su, Chen Shi He (also known as Da He Hong Lian Ban), Jinhua Mei, and Yu Die Lan.
Sword-Yard stone carvings have a long history and are deeply influenced by the Shizhongshan Grottoes. Some of the more famous carvings include the Yuan Dynasty works “Evil Warding,” “Buddha Mother,” the Ming Dynasty “Statue Pedestal of Su Yong’an,” and “The Imperial Scholar’s Procession,” as well as stone carvings of horses, sheep, tigers, qilins (mythical creatures), and figures from the tombs of Duan Gaoxuan and Yang Hui. The most numerous and vivid are the stone lions used for decorating temples and tombs...
Maca is not only a nutrient-rich food but also an herb with various miraculous effects. It is a unique and rare cruciferous plant that serves both as food and medicine. According to modern scientific research, maca contains a variety of nutrients such as protein, amino acids, polysaccharides, and multiple vitamins. In addition, maca also contains natural active plant compounds with special effects, including macaene, macamides, mustard oil, alkaloids, amino acids, and mineral trace elements. These compounds offer pharmacological benefits such as boosting immunity, improving sexual function, regulating endocrine function, combating fatigue, providing antioxidant effects, and fighting tumors. Clinically, maca can be used to enhance and treat sexual function, improve menopausal syndrome, treat anemia, increase physical strength, and lower blood lipids. It is one of the world’s top ten best-selling health supplements. Our county began conducting trials and demonstration plantings of maca introduction in 2003. By 2013, the total area under maca cultivation in the county reached 21,000 mu, yielding 4,198 tons of fresh maca fruit annually. Years of practice have proven that land suitable for maca cultivation is mainly distributed in mountainous cold temperate to sub-frigid zones at altitudes of 2,800 to 4,200 meters and latitudes between 20 and 30 degrees north. It is entirely suitable for promotion and cultivation in Lijiang’s high-altitude cold mountainous areas above 2,800 meters, and it has broad market prospects. The land area in Yulong County suitable for promoting maca cultivation exceeds 100,000 mu. With the Ministry of Health officially approving maca as a “new resource food” for production and business operations, the Lijiang Municipal Government has set the industrial development goal of “centering on Lijiang, radiating to the Greater Shangri-La region, working hard for five years, and building Lijiang into the world’s largest maca planting and processing base.” By the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan period, the planned maca planting base area in Yulong County will reach 50,000 mu, with output value exceeding 250 million yuan. This will truly establish it as a characteristic and advantageous industry in high-altitude poor mountainous areas and create another iconic product of Yulong following Lijiang Snow Peaches — “Lijiang Maca.”
【Main Production Area and Distribution】 It is produced in Lijiang County of the Lijiang region in Yunnan Province, and is also found in neighboring counties. 【Historical Development】 Local residents have long had the habit of horse breeding. Since 1944, Arabian horses were introduced to crossbreed and improve the local stock. After 1953, other breeds such as the Arabian-Mongolian, Kabarda, Hequ horse… were also introduced.
Dali straw hat weaving is a traditional handicraft of the Bai people in the Dali region. Legend has it that during the Nanzhao period, there was once a Straw Hat Street near Taihe City, and the name of this street still exists today in Taihe Village, Qiliqiao, Dali City. In the past, straw hat weaving was entirely done by hand, resulting in limited production and monotonous designs and varieties. Nowadays, the Bai villagers of Dali have leveraged their traditional...
Jianchuan County is known as the "Hometown of Carpenters." Local woodcraft artisans excel at carving various figures, flowers and birds, landscapes, as well as auspicious designs of dragons, phoenixes, and other symbols, which are used to decorate doors, windows, furniture, and more. Jianchuan woodcarving inherits and promotes the outstanding traditional art of ethnic woodcarving. The products are made from high-quality materials such as rosewood, southwest birch, Burmese rosewood, natural plant lacquer, and...
Crispy on the outside, soft and fragrant inside, available in both savory and sweet flavors, suitable for breakfast or as part of a main meal. The Xizhou Crispy Pancake is made by mixing refined flour in a basin with water and baking powder to form a dough. After resting briefly, the dough is kneaded thoroughly on a board, rolled into a sheet, sprinkled with fine salt (or sugar), brushed with a layer of cooked lard, then rolled back into a long strip. It is then divided into portions, rolled...
The origin of Heqing Qian Liquor has a rather legendary and mysterious story in folklore. It is said that during Emperor Qianlong’s southern tour, he once tasted Xilongtan Liquor from Heqing at a banquet. He found the flavor rich and mellow, yet with a crisp, refreshing taste; the aftertaste carried a wild, mountainous fragrance. The emperor, who had sampled all the fine wines under heaven, took one sip and couldn’t help but exclaim, “This is truly a rare and exquisite liquor in the world. Even Du Kang himself might not be able to brew such a fine drink.” He then bestowed an imperial decree, designating this liquor as an annual tribute to the royal court, to be delivered regularly and on time. The name of the liquor was thus given as “Qian Liquor,” implying that its exclusive ownership belonged to none other than Emperor Qianlong himself.
The industrious and intelligent women of the Bai ethnic group in Yunnan have learned cross-stitch embroidery from an early age, mastering exquisite craftsmanship. The intricately embroidered headscarves, handkerchiefs, and tie-dyed fabrics they create are mostly blue with white patterns. These pieces not only serve as decorative head wraps or are worn on the chest, but are also treasured items for engagement gifts. Cross-stitch scarves are a unique craft of the Bai women. Drawing inspiration from folk favorites such as flowers, birds,...