Also known as "black plums" or "boiled plums." Its production technique uses bitter plums as the raw material, which are soaked in a clay jar and placed in the "mother-and-child fire" (a low fire made from burning rice husks) ashes of the hearth, kept warm for one to two months until the plums turn pitch black, at which point the heating stops and they are ready to eat. Stewed plums can be stored for years without losing flavor. The Bai people often give them as gifts to family and friends...
The “Southwest Silk Road” is a renowned ancient trade route. Along this historic path, nestled at the junction of Shuimu Mountain — one of the Buddhist sacred sites in western Yunnan — and the natural wonder Tianhua Mountain, lies an old post station called Tianma. This otherwise unremarkable village, blessed with uniquely pure water and abundant soybean production, has seen its villagers largely take up tofu-making as their trade,…
The ingredient formula for Xiangyun Spicy Bean Paste includes 160 kilograms of fresh green chili peppers, 200 kilograms of high-quality thick soy sauce, 10 kilograms of refined salt, and 5 kilograms of winter honey. Production method: (1) Ingredient selection: The selection process is strict. The fresh chili peppers must be the “Caijinku” variety produced in the Xiangyun, Binchuan, and Midu areas. They should have thin skins, thick flesh, plump seeds, a pure spicy flavor…
Xiangyun walnuts are abundantly produced in the Jinsha River basin. Known for their large size, thin shells, white kernels, pollution-free quality, and superior taste, they are considered a natural delicacy. Regular consumption can moisten the lungs, nourish the kidneys, beautify the complexion, darken hair for cosmetic effect, strengthen the body’s resistance, effectively lower blood lipids, and help reduce blood pressure to some extent.…
About 30 centimeters long and 10 centimeters wide, the golden and translucent Midu Yellow Tofu Skin is an essential dried vegetable for households and is favored by people from all walks of life. Production process: Grind peas into powder, mix with water in proportion, add seasonings, stir in a pot until cooked, then transfer to a sieve. After cooling, shave it into skin-like sheets using horsehair—the more transparent, the better. Once the tofu skin has dried, it is ready for market.
The Crisp and Fragrant Pear is abundantly produced in the mild climate and well-watered regions of Hongxing and Xinzhuang in Midu County, with those from Zhufang and Huangkuangchang being particularly renowned. It is celebrated both within and outside the province for its thin skin, sweet and fragrant crispness, and tender flesh. The Crisp and Fragrant Pear is a unique fruit of Midu, ripening early—generally between the seventh lunar month and around the Mid-Autumn Festival. The fruit...
The suitable climate and profound cultural heritage of Weishan have contributed to the refined elegance of its orchids. A wide variety of orchid species thrive here, with famous varieties including Datang Fengyu, Bao Cao, Yao Cao, Yuandan Lan, and Zhu Lan. Located in the high mountains and deep valleys of western Yunnan, Weishan County features a uniquely complex geographical environment where many rare and superior wild orchid species grow.
Cold Chicken Rice Noodles…
“Dengchuan bow fish is delicious, Eryuan milk fan is fragrant.” This Yunnan folk saying reveals just how delightful the milk fan is. A dairy product, the milk fan is a signature delicacy of the Bai people, with those from Eryuan being considered the most authentic. Eryuan boasts lush water and grasslands and is abundant in dairy cows. As early as the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the Bai people had mastered the technique of making...
Eryuan boasts abundant geothermal resources, divided into two main types: sulfur springs and carbonated springs. The hot springs are rich in various trace elements such as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and iron, with excellent water quality. The highest water temperature can reach up to 88°C, hot enough to directly cook delicious sulfur hot spring eggs.…
Eryuan garlic is a specialty of Eryuan County in Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Early-maturing garlic is a key featured industry for the development of highland ecological agriculture in Eryuan County. The county has implemented a model of "agricultural leading enterprises + garlic farmers + agricultural product industry associations," making early-maturing garlic one of the leading industries for farmers to achieve prosperity and increase income. Eryuan highland garlic is mainly early-...
Dali's Eryuan is truly the land of plums, covered in vast plum orchards. "The flowers have faded, leaving only faint red traces; the green apricots are still small." Though green plums are sour, the "Golden Flowers" of Dali know how to tame them. Simply making them into candied fruit would be too ordinary. The Golden Flowers of Dali craft the plums into "carved plums." Green plums are very juicy, so they must first be soaked in lime water...
Eryuan Carved Plum is a traditional and renowned food of the Bai ethnic group. Historical records indicate that as early as the Nanzhao period during the Tang Dynasty, it was customary to give carved plums as gifts when visiting relatives and friends. The name "carved plum" comes from the intricate patterns carved into green plums. The production process uses salted plums as the main ingredient. First, the salted plums are soaked in lime water, then taken out and air-dried. Next, a carving knife is used to etch continuous, winding patterns into the plum flesh, the pit is removed through the gaps, leaving the plum hollow like a lacework. It is then gently pressed into a chrysanthemum shape, forming a sawtooth-edged plum cake. The cake is placed in a basin of water with a little salt added to reduce the sourness of the plum. It is then transferred to a clay jar and preserved for several months in premium brown sugar and honey. Once the plum cakes turn golden yellow, they are ready to be taken out and eaten. The carved plum has a fragrant taste, crisp and sweet, with a pleasant sour-sweet flavor that refreshes the palate, stimulates the appetite, and invigorates the spirit. It is rich in vitamin C, glucose, amino acids, and other nutrients, making it a beneficial food for health.
Eryuan County in the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture is known as the "Hot Spring City," famous for its saying: “A hot spring every ten li, a thermal spring every five li.” The area is rich in geothermal resources. For example, Jiutai Platform Hot Spring is a sulfur spring with an average water temperature of 76°C, abundant in potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and other trace elements beneficial to the human body. It has therapeutic effects on skin conditions, rheumatism, abdominal ailments, and…
Raw skin is a unique dish of the Bai ethnic group. It involves roasting a whole pig or sheep over a straw fire. Once it’s half-cooked, the hair is removed and the meat is roasted again until the skin and flesh turn golden yellow. When served, the meat is sliced into strips or pieces and seasoned with ginger, scallions, garlic, preserved plums, chili peppers, and other spices, resulting in a fragrant and fresh taste — a traditional delicacy reserved for honored guests...
In Pu'er, what is called "rice noodles" (米干) is known as "rolled rice noodles" (卷粉) in Kunming, and as "cheung fun" (肠粉) in Guangdong. The rice noodles in Pu'er are steamed fresh and sold hot. Pu'er’s bean soup rice noodles are famous far and wide and are considered an excellent dish for strict vegetarians and those on a diet. They have a soft, tender texture and a deliciously sweet flavor, enjoying a reputation across Southeast Asian countries. Anyone traveling to or on business in Pu'er will want to try them…
Eryuan Prunes —— The specimens of the first two wild plum varieties discovered by botanists, the thorny plum and the curved-stem plum, were collected in 1887 and 1888 in Dapingzi, Dali, Yunnan Province.
Is a unique way of life among the Bai people in Dali, Eryuan, and other regions when slaughtering pigs for meat. During festivals, holidays, or weddings and funerals, the Bai people customarily slaughter pigs and prepare the meat. Their method of butchering the pig is distinctive. After the pig is slaughtered, it is roasted beside a well using straw or thatch. One person fans the flames with a winnowing basket to fan the fire, while another uses two…
Heqing Rice Cake, with its appealing color, aroma, and taste, is a traditional food used by locals to entertain guests or honor ancestors and deities during festivals, weddings, funerals, and other important occasions. Heqing Rice Cake is meticulously made and comes in two main types: dry cake and water cake. To make dry cake, first soak premium white rice until soft, then grind it into powder. Next, mix the powder with mint, orange peel juice, and brown sugar, and grind it finely. Then…
Heqing County is a renowned orchid-producing area in Dali Prefecture, known as the hometown of Daxuesu orchids. Historical records indicate that orchid cultivation began in Heqing as early as the early Ming Dynasty, with a longstanding tradition among locals of growing, collecting, and appreciating orchids. On July 22, 1986, the Heqing County Orchid Association was established. Now, after 17 years, the association has remained steadfast in its mission to develop the orchid industry in Heqing County...