Wuliangshan Ham

Coming from Kunming, get off at Xiangyun on the Xiangrui Expressway, then it’s another three to four hours’ drive toward Yunxian County. This stretch of road is quite interesting—within just a few hours, you can see how mountains affect air humidity. Even along the Xiangyun section, you might spot sisal plants. And Wuliangshan Ham is one of the most commonly seen local specialties along this route.

Wuliangshan Ham from Nanjian County in Yunnan Province is as renowned as the Nanjian Black-Bone Chicken of Wuliangshan. The ham is meticulously managed—from pig breeding, processing and production, storage, to cooking. The processing techniques of Wuliangshan Ham are closely guarded intangible cultural heritage of Nanjian and have been included in the prefectural-level intangible cultural heritage protection projects. The making of this ham is exceptionally refined, and thanks to the superior environment in which the pigs are raised, “Wuliangshan Ham” has become a unique culinary brand of Nanjian.

　　The main characteristics of Wuliangshan Ham from Nanjian County, Yunnan Province are: shaped like a lute, large but with small bones, thin skin, thick meat, and a balanced lean-to-fat ratio. When sliced open, the cross-section emits a rich aroma, displaying vibrant colors—the lean meat is bright red or rose-colored, the fat is milky white, and the bone is slightly peach-pink, as if still nourished by blood... Too much description will just make you drool. In recent years, with the Nanjian Wuliangshan Cherry Blossom Valley becoming a tourist attraction, many visitors have come specifically to try the ham made from the hind leg of free-range local pigs. Its excellent quality has won the love of travelers and consumers across the country, who praise its fresh color, tender meat, savory saltiness, sweet lingering aftertaste, and delicious yet not greasy taste.

Wuliangshan Ham is a famous traditional cured meat product from Nanjian, and a premium variety among western Yunnan hams. It earned its name by skillfully leveraging the unique geographical and climatic advantages of the Wuliangshan region. The production techniques of Wuliangshan Ham are mainly practiced in some villages within Wuliangshan, including Yongcui Township, Bixi Township, Wuliangshan Town, Gonglang Town, and Baohua Town.

The production of Wuliangshan Ham has very strict requirements regarding climate, season, raw materials, and craftsmanship processes. The steps include selecting the materials, trimming the pork leg, stacking, cleaning, curing, air-drying to remove moisture, pressing, and hanging to dry further. Wuliangshan Ham boasts strong flavor without being overly salty, a well-balanced lean-to-fat ratio, richness without greasiness, tender texture, and a fragrant aroma, making it highly favored by local consumers.

In June 2017, “The Production Techniques of Wuliangshan Ham” was listed by the People's Government of Yunnan Province as part of the fourth batch of provincial-level intangible cultural heritage representative projects.