Wuyi Snake Feast

Wuyi Snake Feast

　　Wuyi Mountain is known as the "Kingdom of Snakes," offering a wide variety of uniquely delicious snake feasts. The main dishes include Stir-fried Dragon Ribs, Stir-fried Dragon Eggs, Boiled Dragon Pearls, Dragons Playing in Water, and Dragon vs. Tiger. Especially notable is the Dragon-Phoenix Soup, which is "crystal clear with no oil residue on the surface and tender meat without any fishy smell." Served in premium tableware, the aroma wafts out when the lid is lifted.

　　The Wuyi Snake Feast is a distinctive local cuisine created in 1984 by Wuyi Mountain Villa. Based on regional flavors, it was carefully refined through selection, improvement, and a strong focus on snake-based ingredients. There are no fish, turtles, shrimp, or crabs, nor is there any toasting or excessive drinking—just elegant vegetarian-style presentation and rich historical and cultural stories.

　　The dishes primarily feature snakes as the main ingredient. Depending on the species and size of the snakes, they are prepared using various cooking methods such as boiling, roasting, stir-frying, and steaming, resulting in 10 to 30 signature dishes. Each guest at the snake feast is also served one snake gallbladder and a small cup of snake blood, both typically consumed mixed with strong liquor. The snake gallbladder is believed to improve eyesight, while the snake blood is said to have remarkable effects on rheumatism and arthritis, providing guests with both a culinary delight and lasting memories.

　　Noted Hong Kong figure Run Run Shaw once remarked after trying the Wuyi Snake Feast: “I’ve tasted many regional delicacies, but I must say the Wuyi Snake Feast excels in color, aroma, taste, and presentation. Dining here is not only refined but also offers a long-lasting fragrance—it’s truly a unique gem of Fujian.” Former PRC President Yang Shangkun also spoke highly of it, praising, “The Wuyi Snake Feast is indeed a marvel of the eight Min regions.”

　　Source: Fujian Provincial Tourism Development Commission