Bin County Hand-Pulled Noodles

Bin County Hand-Pulled Noodles

　　A local noodle dish from Bin County. Legend has it that Bin County hand-pulled noodles originated during the Yuan Dynasty. In 1229, after Emperor Hulagu Khan of the Yuan Dynasty ascended to the throne, Mongolian troops advanced eastward from Gansu and occupied Binzhou. The newly appointed Mongolian governor of Binzhou, fearing rebellion among the locals, banned the use of iron tools—including kitchen knives—by civilians. Unable to cut noodles with knives, the people began tearing dough into strips to eat. A woman surnamed Yang from the southern main street of Binzhou, after much trial and error, managed to pull out noodles as thin as threads, which tasted even better than knife-cut noodles. Soon, every household began imitating her method, and hand-pulled noodles became widely popular.

　　Today, Bin County hand-pulled noodles come in a variety of styles—not only those as fine as threads but also chive-leaf shaped, stick-shaped, wide-sliced, and flaky varieties. These noodles are excellent in color, aroma, and taste. They have a glossy yellow appearance, emit a mouthwatering fragrance upon serving, and offer a smooth, chewy texture that is highly appetizing. They remain a beloved, everyday local noodle specialty.