WeiYuan Bingfen (Sweet Dew Tapioca Pudding)

WeiYuan Bingfen

　　When it comes to bingfen in Pengshan, older residents have many fond memories: during the Cultural Revolution, bingfen was a close companion to the educated youth, and in the early years of reform, it became everyone’s favorite summer treat. Everyone’s childhood memories include bingfen in some way!

Research shows that bingfen originated during the Ming and Qing dynasties in Wuyang (now Pengshan County), and spread across Sichuan by the mid-Qing Dynasty...

There is also a beautiful folk legend about the origin of bingfen: in the late Ming and early Qing periods, in the northwest of Wuyang (today’s Baosheng Town, Pengshan County), there lived a family surnamed Wang with a daughter named Wang WeiYuan. One day, while picking pears in the mountains, WeiYuan accidentally shook some fruit from a vine (now known as the bingfen tree) onto her scented pouch. When she got home and washed the pouch, a transparent fruit pulp seeped out, which surprised her. She poured the pulp into a bowl, and after a while, it congealed. Upon seeing its shiny appearance—neither entirely ice-like nor powder-like—she couldn’t help but taste it. It was cool, silky smooth, and absolutely delightful. She then added brown sugar syrup, tasted it again, and found it cool, sweet, and utterly comforting. WeiYuan exclaimed, “Bingfen (Ice Pudding)! Bingfen!” When her family tried it, they agreed it was incredibly delicious and encouraged her to sell it by setting up a street stall. Thinking it was a great idea to share this treat with others, WeiYuan took to the streets the next day. As soon as her bingfen was ready, a crowd gathered to watch and sample it, and the line never stopped. Over time, people came to know about the “Bingfen Girl” of Wuyang (now Pengshan), affectionately dubbing it “WeiYuan Bingfen!” or simply “Bingfen WeiYuan!” From then on, bingfen grew popular in Pengshan and gradually spread to nearby counties and cities, eventually making its way across all of Sichuan.

From then on, bingfen gained popularity in Pengshan and gradually spread to surrounding cities and counties, eventually making its way across the entire province of Sichuan.