Twin Pagodas Fish

Twin Pagodas Fish

　　The culinary style of Dunhuang is greatly influenced by the grassland nomadic tribes, and "Roast Whole Lamb" is a must-have dish in every restaurant and hotel in the city. However, the "Three Delicacies of Anxi" — drinking Suoyang wine, tasting Guazhou melons, and eating Twin Pagodas Fish — are the origins of both Anxi's and Dunhuang’s food culture. Suoyang wine is believed to strengthen vitality and virility with its medicinal properties, and melons from Guazhou (i.e., Dunhuang) have been produced for over 3,000 years. Historical records show that King Mu of Zhou served Guazhou melons at a banquet for the Queen Mother of the West and feudal lords; the freshwater fish from Twin Pagodas is tender, rich, and delicious, and remains on the menu as part of Dunhuang’s four major gourmet series today: "Martial Grandeur of the Han," "Splendor of the Tang Dynasty," "New Sights of Dunhuang," and "Street Food Delights."