Eight Ditch Lamb Soup

In ancient times, Pingquan was known as "Eight Ditch" (Bāgōu), an important frontier town in northern China, situated at the junction of Inner Mongolia, Hebei, and Liaoning. It was praised as "endless streams of hada (prayer scarves), an insatiable Eight Ditch." Eight Ditch Lamb Soup is a signature snack of Pingquan, truly unique to this place — the only authentic version in the world. Visitors to Chengde, if time permits, absolutely mustn’t…

　　Eight Ditch Lamb Soup

　　Pingquan was historically called “Eight Ditch,” a key frontier town in ancient northern China, located where Inner Mongolia, Hebei, and Liaoning meet. It was famously described as “endless streams of hada, an insatiable Eight Ditch.”

　　Eight Ditch Lamb Soup is a distinctive snack from Pingquan, considered a local marvel, and the only truly authentic version in the world.

　　Travelers visiting Chengde should not miss trying Eight Ditch Lamb Soup if they have the chance — its taste will linger in your memory for a lifetime.

　　Pingquan Lamb Soup is a signature dish from Pingquan County, Chengde City, Hebei Province. Made with lamb offal and a variety of seasonings, it features carefully selected ingredients, a pure taste, unique cooking techniques, fragrant yet mellow flavors, rich but not greasy broth, high nutritional value, and is easy to digest. It leaves an unforgettable aftertaste.

　　“Beyond Xifeng Pass, along the ancient northern roads. Wild deer roam the willow groves; Eight Ditch lamb offal soup awaits.” This quatrain, spontaneously composed by Emperor Kangxi during a hunting trip when he came across this delicious dish, speaks to the fame of Eight Ditch Lamb Offal Soup. The soup gained widespread renown, and today, the once imperial dish bestowed by Emperor Kangxi — Eight Ditch Lamb Offal Soup, now known as Pingquan Lamb Soup — has been refined and passed down through generations by the industrious and ingenious people of Pingquan. It has evolved into a culinary brand with distinct ethnic characteristics.

　　As a distinctive ethnic cuisine, Pingquan Lamb Soup has won universal praise and is indeed a delicious dish, widely celebrated locally. A business traveler from Tangshan who visited on a work trip commented: “I’ve been to many places and tried lamb soup from all over, but Pingquan Lamb Soup is the most authentic and richly flavored I’ve ever had.”

　　Pingquan Lamb Soup is made with lamb offal and various seasonings. With carefully chosen ingredients, unique cooking skills, a fragrant yet mellow taste, pure texture, richness without gaminess, aroma without greasiness, high nutrition, and easy digestion, it offers a memorable aftertaste. Most importantly, the soup is believed to nourish the five internal organs and strengthen the body. It combines five lamb organs: lamb heart relieves depression and nourishes the heart; lamb liver enriches blood and benefits the liver while improving eyesight; lamb lung replenishes lung qi and regulates water metabolism; lamb stomach strengthens the spleen and builds up the body; lamb kidney tonifies kidney qi and essence. Together, these ingredients work synergistically to replenish deficiencies in the five organs, offering notable medicinal benefits.