Caohe Donkey Meat

Caohe Donkey Meat

　　Xushui Caohe is the birthplace of Baoding donkey meat. Caohe donkey meat has a history of several hundred years, boasts profound cultural significance, and is widely known among people of all ages. It enjoys great renown across Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, and even the entire North China region.

According to the “New Annals of Xushui County,” during the Song Dynasty, Caohe was a river used for grain transport. In 1958, when Xushui was building a reservoir, remnants of large wooden boats were excavated from the Caohe waterway. At that time, Caohe Village was also along the official horse route to the capital.

Legend has it that there were two rival factions in the Caohe area at the time: the Grain Transport Gang (Cao Bang) and the Salt Transport Gang (Yan Bang), who had deep-seated conflicts and frequently clashed violently. Once, the Cao Bang captured the donkeys used by the Yan Bang to carry goods. Unable to make use of these spoils of war in any other way, they slaughtered the donkeys and cooked the meat. This gave rise to Caohe donkey meat, and the local community gradually developed a habit of eating it. Through continuous practice, the butchers refined their skills—from assessing the donkeys’ weight, slaughtering and butchering, to seasoning and cooking. The techniques became increasingly sophisticated, forming a unique set of processing secrets. The resulting donkey meat is large, well-formed, bright red in color, richly aromatic, tender both inside and out, fully cooked, and delightfully soft and flavorful. More locals took up the trade, selling donkey meat sandwiches, and the fame of Caohe donkey meat continued to grow.

Legend has it that Emperor Kangxi, while traveling incognito out of the capital, saw numerous signs for Caohe donkey meat sandwiches at roadside food stalls, and summoned his attendant to buy some for him to try. After tasting it, he found it incredibly satisfying. Back in the imperial palace in Beijing, despite being surrounded by a wealth of delicacies, he couldn’t stop thinking about the Caohe donkey meat sandwich. He then sent someone specifically to Caohe to buy more. From then on, the Caohe donkey meat sandwich from Xushui gained fame throughout the capital city.