Palace Noodles

Palace Noodles

　　Palace Noodles are a traditional and distinctive noodle specialty of Gaocheng, known for their unique flavor. Made primarily from high-quality wheat flour, sesame oil, and starch, the noodles undergo over ten meticulous production steps and are divided into two main categories—hand-pulled and rolled—offering three series: nutritional, grain-based, and flavored. With carefully selected ingredients, fine craftsmanship, and rich nutrition, they feature thin yet hollow strands, a bright white color, excellent texture that holds up well when cooked without becoming mushy, clear broth that complements the noodles, a satisfying chew, and a delicious taste. Aisin-Gioro Puyi once composed a poem in praise: “Renewing the old with masterful skill, a timeless legacy continues. Once served only in the imperial court, now enjoyed by families at joyful feasts.”

　　Originally handmade hanging noodles, the production of Palace Noodles began during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, boasting a history of over 1,300 years. After countless improvements to the craft, by the Tang Dynasty they had become a renowned local specialty. However, production at the time was mainly carried out by scattered small workshops with limited output. Historical records indicate that during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, a noodle shop called Yonghe in the county seat produced exceptionally well-made and flavorful hanging noodles, which were selected by local officials to be sent as tribute to the imperial palace. From then on, Gaocheng hanging noodles were listed as an imperial cuisine delicacy, known as “Palace Noodles,” with an annual tribute of 100–200 kilograms. In the early years of the Republic of China, the Shuangshengyong brand of hanging noodles was submitted for competition in cities such as Nanjing and Shanghai, winning the “National Glory Silver Medal” from the Nanjing Presidential Palace, along with dozens of bronze medals, certificates, and being designated as a special food for the presidential residence. They were also exported to Korea, earning an award there.

　　In the 1950s, the county government organized relevant departments to deeply explore and systematize this traditional technique, beginning the restoration and expansion of mass production of Palace Noodles. In 1960, the county grain bureau established the first hanging noodle factory (later renamed the Palace Noodle Factory), with products mainly sold in Shijiazhuang, leading to increasingly prosperous Palace Noodle production. During the 1980s, the grain bureau’s Palace Noodle Factory, the foreign trade bureau’s Palace Noodle Factory, the Longgong Palace Noodle Factory, the Daciyi Palace Noodle Factory, and the Comprehensive Food Factory were successively expanded or newly built, along with the development of over 4,000 specialized Palace Noodle processing households, forming a largely professional and systematic Palace Noodle production system. At the same time, supporting research institutions such as the Palace Noodle Technology Research Institute, Palace Noodle Technical School, and Palace Noodle Association were established to collaborate with manufacturers on technical innovation. Based on human trace element requirements and intake levels, premium ingredients were carefully selected and scientifically formulated, with the addition of various trace elements and nutritious supplementary materials such as tomatoes, milk, and chili peppers. This led to the development of a diverse range of high-nutrition Palace Noodle products, including Tomato Palace Noodles, Spicy Palace Noodles, Egg Palace Noodles, Buckwheat Palace Noodles, Star Anise Palace Noodles, Maternity Palace Noodles, Children’s Palace Noodles, and Senior Health Palace Noodles, among over 20 new varieties. In addition to retaining traditional characteristics, these noodles cater to a variety of tastes, are suitable for both hot and cold meals, and come with ready-made seasonings. In recent years, annual production capacity has reached over 50,000 tons.

　　Since 1984, Gaocheng Palace Noodles have successively won awards such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fishery’s Quality Product Award, the Gold Award at the First National Food Expo, and the Best Sales Award at the 1992 Beijing International Invention Exhibition. They have been recognized as provincial, ministerial, and national quality products, sold across the country, and exported to regions and countries including Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Russia, the United States, and Canada. (Gaocheng)