Changpo Rice Noodles

Changpo Rice Noodles

　　Changpo Rice Noodles - Changpo Town in Danzhou City, Hainan, is a small town by the Xuanlun River, famous for its signature snack, "Rice Noodles."

　　 Rice Noodles, also called Rice Noodle Strips, are made through a complex and delicate process. The rice is soaked in water for one to two days, then ground into a paste, wrapped in clean gauze, and kneaded into rice noodle dough. It is then boiled in an iron pot, taken out, and pounded in a stone mortar. An appropriate amount of "cooked slurry" is added and mixed evenly. The soft rice paste is then gently shaken in a metal "rice noodle sieve" to form thin strands that drip into a pot of boiling water. After about five minutes, the fine, noodle-like rice strips are scooped out.

　　 When eating, the rice noodles are placed in a bowl and topped with ingredients such as minced garlic, leafy greens, shredded beef jerky, peanut powder, pork belly, chopped scallions, pepper, chili, soy sauce, and ginger. Mixing it all together with chopsticks results in a sweet and delicious dish that is also said to help sober up drinkers.

　　Hainan has a rich variety of noodle-based snacks, and Danzhou Rice Noodles are one of them. They are among the favorite foods of the people of Danzhou. A local folk song goes: “Changpo Rice Noodles, Luoji Zongzi; Mutang Oumei, Yongchang Scallions; Majing Red Fish, Flavor So Strong It Breaks the Pot; Paibu Sweet Potatoes, Eat Till You’re Full.” Changpo Rice Noodles top the list of diverse snacks, showing just how highly they are regarded by the people of Danzhou.

　　Rice Noodles may not evoke pleasant associations from their name alone. But once you see the actual dish, it shatters your preconceptions. This rustic snack originating from rural areas may have humble roots, but its preparation is quite refined, resulting in a finished product that is pleasing in color, aroma, and taste — truly unforgettable. It’s like stumbling upon a beautiful, plainly dressed girl while walking down a country lane.

　　Rice Noodles are a beloved food among the people of Danzhou, with rice noodle shops found everywhere in both urban and rural areas. Among them, Changpo Rice Noodles are the most famous. Danzhou folk songs even include these lines: “Changpo Rice Noodles, Luoji Zongzi; Mutang Oumei, Yongchang Scallions; Majing Red Fish, Flavor So Strong It Breaks the Pot; Paibu Sweet Potatoes, Eat Till You’re Full.”

　　Although delicious, making Rice Noodles is an extremely intricate and labor-intensive process that requires high-quality ingredients. However, some vendors skip the complicated steps to save time and money, which makes authentic Changpo Rice Noodles all the more precious. Only those who have eaten them in Danzhou can truly judge whether they’re good or not — without firsthand experience, how could one know the "true flavor"? A story from Changpo, Danzhou, tells of a young man who once bet with his friends that he could eat eight bowls of Rice Noodles. He won 400 yuan but ended up lying on the ground unable to move afterward. Everyone quickly carried him to the nearby Yilun River and submerged him in the water to aid digestion.

　　Rice Noodles (also called Rice Noodle Strips) are made through a complex and meticulous process: the rice is soaked in water for one or two days, then ground into a paste; it is wrapped in white cloth and kneaded into “rice noodle dough”; then boiled in an iron pot, taken out, and pounded in a stone mortar. An appropriate amount of “cooked slurry” is added and mixed evenly. The soft rice paste is then gently shaken in a metal “rice noodle sieve,” allowing it to drip into a pot of boiling water. After about five minutes, it is scooped out, forming the thin, noodle-like Rice Noodles. This is how the dish gets its name, “Rice Noodles” or “Rice Noodle Strips.”

　　Changpo Rice Noodles from Danzhou have a long history and a rich flavor. If authentic Changpo Rice Noodles become increasingly rare, it will be a great pity for both tourists and the people of Danzhou. Hopefully, those with a passion for this dish will join in running rice noodle shops and help build Changpo Rice Noodles into a recognized brand, so more people can come to know and love it.