This photo taken on Nov. 13, 2023 shows Dayun Temple in Wuwei, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Xixia Museum of Wuwei/Handout via tasteallchina ) LANZHOU, Nov. 17 ( tasteallchina ) -- A Buddhist temple dating back more than 1,600 years in northwest China's Gansu Province will reopen to the public on Monday after it had been closed for two years for restoration. Originally built in 363, Dayun Temple is located in the city of Wuwei on the ancient Silk Road route. The latest restoration project started in November 2021 as the building complex had developed broken floors, cracked tiles and other damage, said Ren Yun, deputy curator of the Xixia Museum of Wuwei, which administers the temple. With a total cost of nearly 16 million yuan (2.23 million U.S. dollars), the project included damage repair and maintenance of six individual buildings, including the bell tower and the Chunqiu Pavilion. Water drainage, power and gas facilities were also renovated. After the reopening, visitors will be able to enjoy exhibitions on the temple's history, as well as wooden screens and wooden carriages. "Dayun Temple is an important cultural heritage that witnessed Buddhism spreading eastward along the ancient Silk Road, as well as cultural…

Women in traditional costumes take part in the annual Torch Festival of Yi ethnic group held in Weining County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 29, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Yang Wenbin) Actors perform during the annual Torch Festival of Yi ethnic group held in Weining County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 29, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Yang Wenbin) An aerial drone photo taken on July 29, 2024 shows people celebrating the annual torch festival of Yi ethnic group in Weining County, southwest China's Guizhou Province. ( tasteallchina /Yang Wenbin) Actors perform traditional dance during the annual Torch Festival of Yi ethnic group held in Weining County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 29, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Yang Wenbin) A torchbearer lights up a fire ring during the annual Torch Festival of Yi ethnic group held in Weining County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 29, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Yang Wenbin) People take part in the annual Torch Festival of Yi ethnic group held in Weining County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 29, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Yang Wenbin)

The lotus root is an ingredient that grows in mud. Although beautiful lotus flowers sit atop it, people do not overlook the lotus roots living in the mud because of their many nutritional benefits and great taste and texture, making them an indispensable quality ingredient. These days are the beginning of the lotus root season, and early lotus roots are gradually becoming more abundant in the market. Occasionally cooking some stir-fried lotus root slices at home is simple and refreshing.Simple Stir-Fried Lotus Root SlicesThe lotus root has a unique fragrance. Although it comes from the mud, its natural aroma cannot be covered up. Simple stir-frying is the best way to bring out its true character.Ingredients PreparationAppropriate amount of tender lotus root, scallions, ginger, red peppers, a little salt.Method and Steps1. Peel the tender lotus root and slice it thinly. Soak it in water with white vinegar for 5 minutes to prevent discoloration;2. Chop the scallions into small pieces, slice the ginger, and cut the red peppers into pieces and set aside;3. Heat a wok and add the chopped scallions and ginger slices to stir-fry until fragrant. Then add the lotus root slices and red peppers and stir-fry;4. While stir-frying, add…

Basic Introduction to Wenheng Red-Skin PeanutsThe peanuts of Liancheng County, Fujian Province, are famous, and the red-skin peanuts are even more so. There is a folk rhyme that goes: "Red house, red canopy, inside lives a plump red fellow." Indeed, the Liancheng red-skin peanuts stand out; their full-bodied fruits have a thin skin and are rosy pink from inside to outside. They are fragrantly sweet, crisp, and tender, making them particularly appealing.The Wenheng red-skin peanuts are a traditional local variety in Liancheng County with a long history of cultivation. Through long-term cultivation selection and the excellent soil and ecological environment, they have developed unique morphological and quality characteristics, becoming an important traditional specialty agricultural product of our county. The Wenheng red-skin peanuts belong to the small pearl bean type variety. Their shells are thin and have clear reticulation, giving them a beautiful appearance. They mainly produce two-seeded pods, with a glossy purple-red seed coat. Freshly eaten, they are crisp, smooth, and fine without residue, while cooked, they are fragrantly sweet and delicious. They not only contain rich fats, proteins, carbohydrates, various vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium but also meet people's dietary nutritional needs well. The…

Basic Introduction to Zhenghe Sweet ChestnutZhenghe Sweet Chestnut is a specialty of Zhenghe County, Nanping City, Fujian Province. It is a regionally competitive industry in Zhenghe County, with strong adaptability and resistance, as well as high yield, stable production, and longevity. It is an industry that benefits for a hundred years after one planting, and the people of Zhenghe County refer to sweet chestnuts as the "money tree." Nutritional ValueAccording to "Compendium of Materia Medica," sweet chestnuts have effects such as tonifying the kidneys and qi, treating paralysis of the legs and feet, diarrhea due to internal cold, and promoting blood circulation and resolving stasis.1. Sweet chestnuts are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, calcium, iron, and other minerals, as well as B vitamins, which can help prevent hypertension, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, and osteoporosis in the elderly.2. The riboflavin component in sweet chestnuts has a good therapeutic effect on common oral ulcers.3. Sweet chestnuts contain a large amount of carbohydrates, which can promote the metabolism of fats in the body, provide heat to the body, protect against winter cold entering the stomach, and have the effect of strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach.4. Sweet chestnuts are rich in vitamin…

Basic Introduction to Minqin Honeydew Melon Minqin honeydew melon, produced in Minqin County, Gansu Province, has a planting history of over 50 years, and its product quality surpasses that of similar products elsewhere. It was rated as a high-quality agricultural product in the province in 1992, and it received certification as a “green food” from the National Green Food Development Center. In 1995, it was awarded the title of “Time-honored Brand of China” by the Ministry of Domestic Trade of the People's Republic of China. It won the gold medal at the 1999 Kunming World Horticultural Exposition in Yunnan and received first prize for recommended fruit for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, with the county designated as a national melon production base. As a result, Minqin is known as the "Land of Melons." Minqin is renowned nationwide as the “Land of Melons.” Its inland desert climate, characterized by long hours of sunlight and significant day-night temperature differences, along with sandy soil conditions and the widespread use of non-polluting farming techniques, makes its yellow and white honeydew melons popular in domestic and international markets for their jade-green flesh and sweet aroma. These melons are widely loved by consumers as "aromatic" and…

I remember the first time I had clam soup, it was incredibly flavorful. Just seeing the tender white clams in the broth was enough to whet my appetite. When I asked my grandmother who lived by the sea how to cook clams deliciously, she shared a variety of methods like stir-fried clams, steamed clams, and spicy clams, making my mouth water. Among all these ways to prepare clams, my favorite is still the clam soup I had for the first time.How to Cook Clams Deliciously: Home-Style Clam SoupIngredients300 grams of clams, 1/2 yellow pepper, 1/2 green pepper, ginger, salt, cooking wine, sesame oil (all in appropriate amounts).Cooking Method1. Clean the clams; shred the ginger and set aside; remove the seeds from the peppers, clean them, and slice them into strips.2. Heat a small amount of sesame oil in a pot, add the green and yellow pepper slices and stir-fry briefly. Add an appropriate amount of water and bring to a boil.3. Add the clams, ginger shreds, salt, and cooking wine, and cook until the clam shells open. Switch to low heat and cook for about 2 more minutes before turning off the heat immediately.The Secret to Cooking Delicious Clam SoupWhen…

Tea ware is often referred to as the father of tea, for it carries the essence of a cup of tea. The word "China" itself also means porcelain, and the West came to know China through its porcelain. Early pottery, bronze wares, later porcelains, and teaware made from materials like purple clay and glass were all adapted to the social productivity levels and brewing methods of their times. The complete set of gold and silver tea ware unearthed from the Famen Temple’s underground palace from the Tang Dynasty is breathtaking (multiple types of tea ware can also be seen in the painting “Night Banquet in the Tang Palace”). During Emperor Huizong's reign, tea competitions included the use of tea ware as an essential element, and Jian bowls, necessary for the tea-whisking method, became popular. Three of the Jian bowls (also known as Tenmoku bowls) that were brought to Japan are now considered national treasures there. The five famous kilns that produced tea ware are also world-renowned. The evolution of tea ware is a vast topic, but at its core, it cannot be separated from three words: "ceramics, technology, culture." Today, we will explore the evolution of tea ware from two…

Basic Introduction to San Kuai Shi Large Kernel HazelnutsThe San Kuai Shi Large Kernel Hazelnuts are produced in Fushun County, Liaoning Province. The region is situated in a transitional zone from low mountains and hills to plains. The eastern, southeastern, and northeastern areas have high terrain, while the western, southwestern, and northwestern parts are slightly gentler. The entire landscape slopes gently from east to west, with the central area being the Hun River valley. The average elevation is 100-300 meters, characterized by rolling hills, dense forests, and crisscrossing rivers. The topographical feature can be described as “seven parts mountain, one part water, half a part fields, and half a part roads and estates.” Fushun County is located within the sub-humid temperate zone and has a continental monsoon climate. The seasons are distinct, with rain and heat occurring simultaneously. The annual average temperature is 7.8°C. The average temperature in January is -14°C, with the lowest recorded temperature being -35.2°C; the average temperature in July is 24°C, with the highest temperature reaching 35.8°C. The annual average precipitation is 823 millimeters, mostly concentrated in July, August, and September, with a frost-free period of about 145 days, suitable for hazelnut cultivation.As of February 6,…

Basic Introduction of Pangu Mountain Sweet Potato DriedSweet potato dried, also known as yam dried, is best when grown in Pangu Mountain, Yudu, with the ones from Chazi being the finest. Every autumn after the rice harvest, locals dig up sweet potatoes planted in the fields and store them indoors. When winter comes after the busy farming season, they start drying sweet potatoes in front of their houses. Nutritional ValueIt is rich in glucose and vitamins A, B, C, D, as well as trace elements such as copper, phosphorus, and iron. It is a physiologically alkaline food that can help regulate the physiological acidity of rice, flour, and meat. It replenishes qi and blood, benefits the liver and spleen, removes stasis toxins, soothes meridians, and has a constipation-preventing and anti-cancer effect. As a health-promoting and fatigue-relieving food, it is nutritionally complete. Within its shelf life, a layer of white sugar frost forms on the surface, enhancing its flavor. Product FeaturesThe features of the inverted-steamed sweet potato dried from Pangu Mountain are: the sweet potato dried appears transparent, is clean and hygienic, fragrant, sweet, chewy, and nutrient-rich. Preparation MethodSelect white-skinned sweet potatoes, wash them thoroughly, then peel them and cut into…

Basic Introduction to Fushun AmberThe Xilutian mine in Fushun City, Liaoning Province, is a source of high-quality amber. Types of Fushun amber include golden amber, white cloud amber, flower amber, and the unique blood amber among transparent and translucent varieties. Fushun amber primarily originates from the amber-bearing coal strata of the early Tertiary period in the Cenozoic era. The most famous amber comes from countries along the Baltic Sea coastline in Europe; however, other regions such as North America, the United States, India, New Zealand, and Myanmar also produce it. In China, amber is found in Fushun, Liaoning Province, and the Nanyang region in Henan Province. The amber from Fushun ranges in color from yellow to golden yellow and often contains insects, making it exceptionally beautiful and valuable. Its enchanting allure has earned praise from collectors across China and around the world. Product FeaturesFushun amber handicrafts are made by polishing amber, a byproduct of the open-pit coal mines in Fushun, into unique crafts that reflect local style. These amber handicrafts are as clear as crystal and as smooth as jade. The history of amber carving in Fushun is long-standing, with artisans designing and skillfully carving various amber crafts based on…

In spite of the snowy days we've experienced recently, it really is spring and allergies really have started to affect us. For some it's the nasal congestion and runny nose, for others it's the itchy eyes and headaches, but for all that suffer from seasonal allergies, it's unpleasant.As with all clinical presentations in Chinese medicine, we look for the root cause and atthe branch symptoms. What do we mean by the root cause of allergies?  It's the pollen isn't it? Well, sort of. Sure, the pollen is the trigger and part of the root cause, but the other part is how your immune system is responding to the pollen. When your immune system senses the pollen, it floods your system with antibodies to attack the allergen. These antibodies trigger a cascade of events that cause the symptoms you experience with seasonal allergies such as runny nose, congestion, itchy eyes, chest tightness which are the branch symptoms. Sure, you can take over the counter medications to help alleviate symptoms, but what can you do to address the root...the immune response. In chinese medicine we use acupuncture and herbal medicine to regulate the immune system response.But how? Well, when acupuncture needles are…

Paul Ryan, a US doctor studying traditional Chinese medicine in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, treats a girl with sanfutie plaster, in July, 2012. [Photo provided to China Daily]Traditional Chinese medicine has won more recognition in Western countries in recent years, but the 5,000-year-old medical science still needs a modern interpretation to break into the mainstream Western market.According to the Beijing-based World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, more TCM clinics have opened in the West and more colleges are starting to offer TCM education, but TCM has not attained legal status in many countries.In some countries, TCM is considered a food supplement rather than having medicinal effects, it added.A major reason that TCM is not widely acknowledged in these countries is a lack of research on TCM such as its pharmaceutical details and its interaction with other medicines, according to the federation.The number of registered TCM practitioners worldwide is estimated at about 500,000.A cooperative project between the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia is trying to combine TCM with modern interpretations of ancient documents and high-level clinical research.US students in a university in Shandong province learn about Chinese traditional medicine on June 27 in…

President of Allameh Tabataba'i University Abdollah Motamedi speaks at the final round of the "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for Iranian college students held at Allameh Tabataba'i University in Tehran, Iran, June 10, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Shadati) TEHRAN, June 10 ( tasteallchina ) -- The final round of the "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for Iranian college students was held in Iran's capital Tehran on Monday, with two students receiving the first and second prizes. Sixteen college students from across Iran rivaled in the final race held at Allameh Tabataba'i University (ATU) in Tehran and participated in a speech contest, followed by a talent show with options from skits, singing, and drawing to tongue twisters. The first prize went to Mahtab Montazeri Hedesh, a senior at the University of Tehran, and the second prize to Fatemeh Baratian, a sophomore at the University of Tehran. The competition was concluded in an awarding ceremony. Chinese Ambassador to Iran Cong Peiwu, ATU's president Abdollah Motamedi, and some professors and students attended the event. In his speech, Cong praised the participants of the competition for their language proficiency, talents and interest in Chinese. He said the "Chinese Bridge" contest had developed from a language contest…

Basic Introduction to Shitai Xiangya "Shitai Xiangya" is the public brand of green tea from Shitai County, with a total tea garden area of 80,000 mu and an output of around 2,500 tons. Nutritional Value Green tea helps delay aging. Tea polyphenols have strong antioxidant properties and physiological activity, making them scavengers of free radicals in the human body. Research has shown that 1 milligram of tea polyphenol can eliminate harmful excess free radicals in the human body as effectively as 9 micrograms of superoxide dismutase, far surpassing other similar substances. Tea polyphenols can interrupt lipid peroxidation reactions and clear active enzymes. According to the test results of Dr. Akeda Takayuki of Japan, the anti-aging effect of tea polyphenols is 18 times stronger than that of vitamin E. Green tea helps suppress cardiovascular diseases. Tea polyphenols play a significant role in human fat metabolism. High levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the body lead to fatty deposits on the inner walls of blood vessels and the proliferation of smooth muscle cells, forming atherosclerotic plaques and other cardiovascular diseases. Green tea contains potent antioxidants and vitamin C, which not only clear free radicals in the body but also secrete hormones that…

China now has entered Zhongfu, the second phase of Sanfu. In the Chinese lunar calendar, Sanfu refers to the three 10-day periods that are predicted to be the hottest days of the year, which are called Toufu, Zhongfu and Mofu.Sanfu usually comes between mid-July to mid-August. Let's take a look at the traditional Chinese ways of spending the dog days of summer.Receiving the SanfutieSanfutie, or Sanfu medicinal patch, is a bandage made of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believe that receiving Sanfutie during the hottest summer days is effective for coughs, asthma and arthritis; it is a patchwork solution for winter ills in summer.The treatment is based on the TCM principle of yin and yang, which believes the balance of both elements in the body is vital for good health. Sanfutie contains a paste of herbs that are "hot" in nature, and when applied to specific acupuncture points, usually on the back and neck, they replenish the yang elements.These patches have been used in TCM since earliest recorded times, according to Huangdi Neijing (The Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor), more than 2,000 years ago, the time-tested textbook for TCM practitioners. Sanfu patch treatment became extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and has enjoyed a revival in recent years as more patients turn to TCM treatment.Eating dumplings during ToufuWhen the…

Basic Introduction to Cele Red Dates"Cele," in the Uighur language, means red dates, and Cele County has a long history of large-scale cultivation of red dates. Using the common local drying method, 2.5 kg of fresh dates can be dried into 1 kg of dried dates. Apart from being dried and eaten fresh, they can also be processed into a series of food products such as beverages, date paste, date tea, roasted dates, honey dates, and canned goods, as well as medicinal health products, all of which have unique characteristics and high nutritional value with health benefits. Nutritional ValueCele Red Dates contain a large amount of Vitamin C and Vitamin B, as well as essential trace elements and various amino acids, including six kinds of amino acids that the human body cannot synthesize. The average sugar content of their fruit is 37%, reaching up to 42% at its highest, with a high content of dry matter. Product CharacteristicsThe dried dates are plump without shriveling, with a bright color, sweet and refreshing taste, and a unique flavor. Historical and Folk CustomsCele County has a long history of large-scale cultivation of red dates. However, due to historical reasons, the county's red date…

Bookings for trips during the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday, also known as the Spring Festival holiday, continue to soar on online travel platforms. Statistics from e-commerce service platforms Meituan and Dazhong Dianping indicated that tour orders booked half a month in advance for the holiday increased about five times year on year, with Beijing, Shanghai, Sanya, Harbin, Chongqing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Xishuangbanna, and Beihai becoming popular tourist destinations. Tourists play at an ice-and-snow carnival held at a scenic area in north China's Shanxi Province. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) Data from online travel agency LY.com revealed that searches for flights from Feb. 8 to 17 rose nearly two times year on year. In particular, the search volume for outbound flight tickets increased about seven times from the same period last year, surpassing the 2019 level. The search volume for "where to go for the Spring Festival" surged 350 percent in the past week on Chinese travel service and social networking platform Mafengwo. Traditional Spring Festival customs like lantern shows, temple fairs, and markets have long been main themes for Spring Festival tourism. Alibaba's travel platform Fliggy showed that cultural tours, folk custom tours and theme park tours are popular…

For many people, nothing beats greeting the morning with a nice cup of tea. Its refreshing, clean taste evokes a feeling of calmness and mindfulness. For more than four millennia, tea has delighted, inspired, and satisfied countless drinkers in all corners of the world. Olivia Yang, the author of The Art of Drinking Tea, said that “the Chinese are, without any doubt, the right people to understand everything about tea.” For thousands of years, the Chinese have practiced and maintained the art of tea cultivation, preparation, and consumption. As tea is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture, it is best to learn about it from them. Keep reading to know more about the utterly rich Chinese tea culture. Traditional Chinese Tea: The Basics There are several main types of Chinese tea, each one with distinct characteristics. Though all tea came from the same plant source - Camellia sinensis - they can be easily referred to as green tea, yellow tea, white tea, oolong tea, black tea, and dark tea. Here’s a brief description of each tea. Green Tea When you hear the word "tea," green tea is probably what first comes to your mind. After all, this is not just the oldest…

The spring pancake, also known as the lotus leaf pancake or simply the thin pancake, is a very thin baked flour pancake that is a traditional delicacy of the Han nationality in China. The ingredients are simple, and the method of making spring pancakes is very convenient. They have a soft and chewy texture, and the way to eat them can be customized according to your preference, with vegetables added as you like. They can be served as a main dish or stir-fried.Introduction to Making Spring PancakesIngredients Needed300 grams of wheat flour, 150 grams of water.Steps for Preparation1. Pour boiling water over the flour and knead into a smooth dough.2. Wrap the prepared dough in cling film and let it rest for half an hour before kneading it into a long strip and cutting it into small portions.3. Take one strip, flatten it, coat each piece with a layer of oil, stack two pieces together, and roll them out thinly and large.4. Place the prepared dough sheets in a pot and steam on high heat for 10 minutes; once cooled, they can be peeled off layer by layer.Tips1. Making spring pancakes is straightforward, but when kneading the dough, add water…