Changzhi Specialty Food Guide

Changzhi, this ancient city with a long history, boasts not only profound cultural heritage but also a treasure trove of mouthwatering delicacies and unique local specialties. Here's a guide to Changzhi's specialty foods, taking you on a journey to experience the city's distinctive flavors. Food Section 1. Huguan Mutton Soup: Made with fresh mutton and offal, simmered for hours to create a rich broth with tender meat. A sip of the soup and a bite of the meat will warm both your body and stomach, making it a perfect choice for winter. Paired with baked flatbread, it becomes even more delicious. 2. Lucheng Shuaibing (Flung Pancake): A traditional noodle dish where the dough is flung paper-thin, then rolled with scallions, salt, and other seasonings before being pan-fried to golden crispiness. Crispy on the outside and tender inside, its aroma is unforgettable. 3. Shangdang Cured Donkey Meat: Reddish in color, firm in texture, and rich in flavor. Made from fresh donkey meat marinated with various spices, it's a local specialty. Enjoy it as a snack, stir-fry it, or use it as a filling for buns. 4. Wuxiang Date Cake: Steamed from millet flour and red dates, it's soft, sweet, and full of date fragrance. Each bite offers the sweetness of dates and the richness of millet flour. 5. Zhangzi Stir-Fried Pancake Strips: Flatbread made from flour is cut into thin strips and stir-fried with shredded meat, garlic stems, and vermicelli. The chewy pancake strips paired with fresh ingredients and a touch of vinegar create a tangy and appetizing dish. 6. Qinxian Dry Bun: Hollow and round, made from wheat flour, Sichuan pepper powder, salt, and sesame oil. Crispy with a strong wheat aroma, it's delicious when stuffed with cooked meat or date cake. 7. Crispy Baked Cake: Made from flour, eggs, and cooked donkey fat, it's light yellow in color and crispy in texture. A traditional snack in Changzhi, loved by locals. 8. White Pig Head Meat: Snow-white in color, crisp and tender, fatty but not greasy, sliced paper-thin, with a fragrant and slightly sour taste. A signature braised meat product from Zhangzi County, also one of Changzhi's top ten specialty snacks. 9. Hezi Rice: Also known as mixed grain porridge, it's made by boiling millet, beans, potatoes, or wild vegetables together. Rich in flavor and nutrition, it's a common breakfast or dinner for locals. 10. Ca Kedo (Scraped Noodles): Also called scraped noodles, the dough is scraped into small noodle shapes and served with seasonings after cooking. Chewy and smooth, it's a traditional noodle dish from Licheng and Qinxian. Specialty Section 1. Qinzhou Yellow Millet: Waxy yellow in color, plump grains, soft and fragrant, rich in protein and trace elements. Once a tribute rice during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, it's known as the "King of Millet" and a must-buy healthy ingredient for visitors. 2. Huguan Dryland Tomatoes: Thanks to high altitude and ample sunlight, they have thick flesh and a balanced sweet-sour taste, suitable as both fruit and vegetable. Enjoy them raw or use them in cooking. 3. Shangdang Codonopsis: Plump roots with mild medicinal properties, known for boosting energy and vitality. A classic Chinese herbal medicine for regulating qi and blood, also a great health product. 4. Licheng Walnuts: Thin shells with high kernel yield, rich in unsaturated fatty acids and minerals. Crispy and nutritious, perfect as a daily snack or gift. 5. Xiangyuan Handmade Noodles: Pure handmade, as thin as hair, and resistant to overcooking. Best paired with local mutton soup or spicy gravy for a unique flavor. 6. Changzhi Hawthorn Cake: Made from high-quality local hawthorns through multiple processes. Bright in color, even in thickness, moderately crispy, and rich in nutrients, it helps stimulate appetite and aid digestion. 7. Lu Wine: Clear and mellow, a traditional famous liquor of Changzhi. With unique brewing techniques and a rich taste, it's ideal for banquets or gifting. 8. Shangdang Silk Embroidery Relief: Also called "3D Chinese painting," made from silk through cotton padding, painting, and stitching to create relief artworks. With diverse themes blending painting and craftsmanship, it's a highly artistic collectible. 9. Xiangyuan Loess Egg: Using modern techniques based on ancestral methods, fresh local eggs are boiled in earthen pots with Chinese herbs. The shell remains intact, the egg white turns earthy yellow, and it's aromatic and nutritious. 10. Changzhi Forsythia: A national geographical indication product with heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. Dried, it can be brewed as tea or used in medicine, making it a great souvenir for health-conscious travelers. Changzhi's food and specialties are like dazzling pearls, carrying the city's history and culture. Whether savoring authentic dishes or shopping for local products, you'll experience Changzhi's unique charm. Come to Changzhi and embark on a culinary adventure!