Weishan is rich in rapeseed production and is a key rapeseed base county in Yunnan Province. In 1997, the Quality Agricultural Products Development Center of the County Agricultural Technology Station selected pure double-low rapeseed oil and processed it through procedures such as dephosphorization, deacidification, decolorization, and deodorization to produce “Jianbao” brand Fragrant Oil. This product features a clear and transparent oil color, a mellow and fragrant taste, produces no smoke when heated, and leaves no foam when stir-frying or boiling. It meets national…
Preserved fruits are a long-renowned specialty product of Weishan. During the Qing Dynasty, they were even presented as tribute to the imperial court in Beijing. In the Republican era, Yang Xisheng, a British Christian missionary who lived in Weishan, would bring Weishan preserved fruits back to his home country every year during his home leave, gifting them to archbishops and friends. The origins of preserved fruits can be traced back to Taoist medicinal health foods. Made from the roots, …
Weishan pickles are renowned far and wide for their fragrant, sweet, crisp, and tender texture, along with their bright and appealing color. There is a wide variety of types, including wheat orchid pickled vegetables, pickled radish, fermented tofu, broad bean paste, fermented soybeans, fermented garlic stems, pickled cucumbers, sweet fermented tofu, pickled chili, and pickled lettuce, among which wheat orchid pickled vegetables and fermented soybeans are particularly distinctive. Wheat orchid pickled vegetables are made primarily from wild mountain-grown…
A grass stool is a stool woven from straw, but what makes the grass stools from Weishan unique is their shape and color. Weishan grass stools come in a variety of shapes and sizes, while their colors are determined by the cloth wrapped around the straw, resulting in a vibrant and colorful array. They can even display various patterns, such as the Bagua (Eight Trigrams), heart shapes, and more. …
Papaya water in Dali is suitable for all ages, cool and refreshing, quenching both thirst and weariness. The silky texture of papaya water in your mouth can instantly relieve fatigue. The “papaya” here isn’t the teardrop-shaped fruit that grows on southern papaya trees, but rather the fruit of another plant. Its seeds are extracted, crushed, and then made into a crystal-clear, gelatinous substance. Sprinkle in tiny…
Locals call hand-pulled noodles "chěchě miàn" (pulled noodles). There’s a shop on Houkuo Street in the ancient city of Weishan where the noodles are incredibly smooth and slippery, costing just 1.5 yuan per bowl. However, the owner only makes 20 jin (about 10 kg) of noodles a day and closes up once they’re sold out. Usually, the stand wraps up by 9:00 AM, so if you want to try the noodles, you’ll need to get there early. Hand-pulled noodles are enjoyed in various ways on different occasions...
Weishan pickles are widely renowned for their fragrant, sweet, crisp, and tender texture, as well as their vibrant color. There is a rich variety of types, including wheat orchid pickled vegetables, pickled radish, fermented tofu, broad bean paste, fermented soybeans, fermented garlic stems, pickled cucumbers, sweet topping, spicy fermented vegetables, and pickled lettuce stems, among which wheat orchid pickled vegetables and fermented soybeans are especially distinctive. Wheat orchid pickled vegetables are made primarily from wild mountain-grown…
Rice noodles are a beloved rice-based dish among the people of Yunnan, though their origins date back to an untraceable time. Weishan’s rice noodles are snow-white in color, tender in texture, and have a firm yet chewy bite. After being blanched in boiling water, they remain neither mushy nor broken, and are smooth and soft on the palate. Beyond the outstanding quality of the noodles themselves, the greater highlight lies in their unique topping—“braised pork.” Throughout the streets and alleys of Weishan, you can find...
Green Bean Mini Cakes are primarily made from rice and green broad beans. First, non-glutinous rice and glutinous rice are mixed in proportion, then washed, soaked, and pounded into cake flour. The boiled green beans are then kneaded into the rice flour, giving it an emerald green color. The steaming process uses only three small steamers with a 30mm diameter opening, alternately. Brown sugar is added in the middle, and the two halves are combined to form the final cake, which is steamed fresh...
When it comes to the most famous snack in Weishan, Huapo Meat Rice Noodles would probably take the crown. Walk into the ancient town, and you’ll find shops selling this delicacy on almost every street corner. No one can quite say when this dish first became a household staple or how it stepped out of the small town to capture the attention and taste buds of people far and wide. What we do know is that from childhood to...
Rice cake is not originally considered an exceptional delicacy — many places have it. It’s simply made by grinding high-quality rice into flour, steaming it in a bamboo steamer, and enjoying it as a sweet treat. In the ancient town, rice cakes are usually prepared in three ways: round bamboo steamers produce sliced, square-shaped cakes; block-shaped ones come straight from the steamer; but the most unique…
Visitors to Weishan love eating Sweet Tofu Pudding and Rice Jelly. According to elders, these two treats did not appear in the same era. The origins of Rice Jelly are unclear—no one knows which dynasty or person first made it—but legend has it that Sweet Tofu Pudding was invented by the people of Menghua. It is said that long ago, some people in Menghua (now Weishan) were burning limestone on a mountain...
“Niudagun,” or “Rolled in Soybean Flour,” is a traditional snack from the Weishan region. It resembles a sesame-glutinous rice ball but earns its name from the final step in its preparation—rolling it in a tray of soybean flour, which mimics the way a cow rolls in a field.
Weishan Red Snow Pear has a long local cultivation history. According to the *Forestry* records of Weishan Yi and Hui Autonomous County: “Weishan Red Snow Pear is an excellent late-maturing, storage-resistant variety unique to the county, with nearly a hundred years of cultivation history.” Since it matures in winter, locals also call it “Winter Snow Pear.” According to materials compiled by the Weishan Yi and Hui Autonomous County Science and Technology…
The culture of food, after thousands of years of accumulation, has become profound and boundless—no matter how deeply you explore, it always seems to have no end. Thus, one conclusion can be drawn: places rich in culture and history are sure to have delicious food. Well, Weishan is yet another testament to this truth. Weishan’s “Braised Pork Rice Noodles” have long been famous far and wide, making people constantly “drool…”
In spring, the sun reflects the eager green shoots, washing away the solemnity of winter. Everything awakens in splendor, and orchids quietly bloom in quaint, serene courtyards. Strolling through the ancient town, the fragrance of orchids wafts around you, and before you know it, you’re immersed in their timeless charm. It’s a delightful discovery to find a place that resembles the orchid so closely in spirit. Weishan is…
Grilled rice cake is a traditional snack from Dali, Yunnan. It is made by pressing cooked glutinous rice into block shapes, usually round and thin like pancakes. The cakes are then grilled over charcoal and topped with sauces and vegetable fillings. The fragrant rice combined with the flavorful toppings makes it a beloved treat among the people of Yunnan. Its preparation method is similar to that of mochi, but mochi is made from...
Midu Pickled Vegetables have become a popular preserved food in cities like Kunming in recent years. This delicacy has won the favor of consumers and travelers alike with its unique flavor, making it a truly appetizing dish. There are mainly two types of traditional pickled vegetables: one is called water-pickled vegetables, and the other is called pressed vegetables. Midu Pickled Vegetables are bright in color and tangy in taste,...
Midu papaya water is suitable for all ages—cool, refreshing, thirst-quenching, and satisfying. The silky feel of papaya water in your mouth can instantly banish fatigue. The term “papaya” here does not refer to the teardrop-shaped fruits that grow on southern papaya trees, resembling little milk-filled pods, but rather the fruit of another plant. Its seeds are extracted, mashed, and then processed into a crystal-clear, gelatinous substance, sprinkled with tiny dots...
Farmers in Midu have long had the tradition of growing garlic. The garlic produced here is large in size, with allicin content more than three times higher than that of garlic grown on the plains, making it highly popular in both domestic and international markets. In recent years, the county has expanded its garlic planting area, promoted scientific and technological measures, and focused on developing garlic into a pillar industry for enriching the people and strengthening the county. Midu has fully leveraged its geographical advantage as a vegetable production hub in western Yunnan...