Hubei Culinary Guide | Unlocking the Delicious Flavors of Xiangyang and Xianning
The charm of Hubei lies half in the picturesque beauty of its rivers, lakes, and seas, and half in the delicious flavors of its bustling city life. On this special day of Super Tourism Day, why not embark on a "Twin Cities Culinary Journey"—from the chivalrous spirit of Xiangyang Ancient City to the comforting warmth of Xianning Hot Springs, unlocking the culinary secrets of Hubei.
1️⃣ Xiangyang Culinary Guide🍜 The spirit of Xiangyang is hidden in its delicious food! It boasts both the boldness of northern noodles and the delicate refinement of southern cuisine, a culinary experience that will leave you wanting more.
🔥Eight Must-Try Dishes🌟 Every bite tells a story of Xiangyang
✅ Xiangyang Beef Noodles🌶️: The soul of Xiangyang's breakfast! The alkaline noodles are chewy and springy, the beef and offal are tender and flavorful, the broth is fragrant with chili oil, and the crisp mung bean sprouts add a refreshing touch. You'll feel incredibly satisfied after eating, sweating profusely. ✅Xiangyang Yellow Wine🍶: A provincial-level intangible cultural heritage exclusive! Its pale milky-white color is visually appealing, with an alcohol content of 4-3%, making it pleasantly mild and not intoxicating. It has a sweet and sour taste with a lingering aroma, and pairs perfectly with beef noodles to relieve the spiciness and enhance the flavor. It's made using traditional Jingchu brewing techniques.
✅Xiangyang Braised Pig Trotters🥩: A stunning cold dish with contrasting red and white colors! The pig trotters are deboned, marinated, tightly wrapped, and dried. The slices are translucent and have a chewy yet tender texture. Dipped in ginger and red vinegar, it's a perfect accompaniment to drinks, showcasing the inclusiveness and meticulousness of the people of Xiangyang.
✅Xiangyang Brown Sugar Cake🍘: A popular item on Beijie Street! Baked in a charcoal oven, it's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a sweet and sticky brown sugar filling. Enjoy it while strolling and eating it with milk tea – a stylish and comfortable experience in the ancient-style streets, a must-try for young people!
✅Yicheng Shrimp🦐: The ultimate in garlic flavor! Standing shoulder to shoulder with Xuyi crayfish and Qianjiang braised prawns, this dish features a high-oil braising process with plenty of garlic and chili peppers, resulting in a fresh, spicy, and invigorating flavor that intensifies with each peel – a summer-limited source of joy!
✅Dragon King Roasted Goose🦢: A divine flavor achieved through braising followed by roasting! A nine-pound goose is braised until flavorful, then stir-fried, resulting in a bright red color, tender and juicy meat, non-greasy skin, and a satisfyingly chewy texture. The aroma of the braising and roasting blend perfectly, making it even better when enjoyed amidst the idyllic countryside.
✅Xiangyang Eight Bowls🥡: The quintessential traditional banquet of Nanzhang! Twenty-eight dishes encompassing steaming, frying, braising, and pan-frying, all made with local farm ingredients. The four-sided table seating eight people creates a festive atmosphere, symbolizing good fortune and happiness.
✅Shengkang Braised Pork🍲: A rich and flavorful dish perfect with rice! Pork rump and shoulder are braised in a traditional farm-style fermented bean paste, steamed and sun-dried nine times, until tender and chewy, full of collagen, offering a unique flavor even more delicious than regular braised pork.
2️⃣ Xianning's Showcase of Intangible Cultural Heritage Dishes🍜
This "Hometown of Osmanthus in China"🌼 and "Hot Spring Capital"♨️ is the perfect choice for a "warm and comforting" experience during Hubei's Super Cultural Tourism Day. Soak in a warm hot spring, then enjoy a feast of intangible cultural heritage dishes—who can resist this winter's therapeutic joy?
🔥 Seven Intangible Cultural Heritage Dishes for a Delightful Taste
✅ Jiayu Pork Rib and Wild Lotus Root Hot Pot
The annual "Lotus Root Encounter" truly lives up to its name! Wild lotus root paired with local pork ribs, simmered for 4 hours, results in a rich, milky-white broth with a sweet and refreshing aftertaste🌿. Drink the soup first, then eat the lotus root; a warm current spreads from your stomach throughout your body, instantly filling you with winter bliss.
✅ Xianning Hesheng Chicken Soup
A bowl of golden chicken soup that "clings" to the sides! Free-range chicken from the Jianghan Plain, stewed with sweet potato vermicelli for 3 hours using traditional methods, results in tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken and vermicelli soaked in savory broth—a truly delicious and rich flavor! Unlock the essence of Chu-style health and wellness with this three-way culinary experience: "drink the soup, eat the meat, and soak rice in it."
✅Lushu Lake Braised Guan Dao Fish
A Three Kingdoms flavor with a touch of "jianghu" (江湖, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry)! The Lushu Lake's mandarin fish, shaped like a Green Dragon Crescent Blade, is braised to a bright red color, with firm meat and chewy skin. It's savory, slightly spicy, and has a sweet aftertaste—the authentic "oil-free, no-broth" flavor is simply amazing! Pair it with rice wine, and you'll feel transported to the battlefields of the Three Kingdoms era.
✅Chongyang Lei Bamboo Shoots Braised with Cured Pork
Rice killer warning! Qingming bamboo shoots, after being pounded in a stone mortar to remove bitterness while retaining their crispness, are stir-fried with cured pork belly smoked for over 3 months. The aroma of the cured pork belly and bamboo shoots intertwine, the cured pork belly is glossy and not greasy, and the bamboo shoots are crisp and tender with no residue. 🌶️ The broth is perfect for mixing with rice or noodles, and paired with Chongyang rice wine to cut through the richness, it's an unforgettable experience.
✅ Tongcheng Maishi Thousand-Layer Tofu Sheets: Thin as a cicada's wing, this "soft gold" of bean products! A 400-year-old intangible cultural heritage, each sheet is only 0.5 mm thick, translucent, flexible and not easily broken, with no additives, and a pure and lingering bean flavor. 😋 It can be stir-fried, cold-dressed, or boiled, its natural flavor is absolutely superb.
✅ Jiayu Paizhou Fish Balls: A bouncy delicacy that "dances"! Made with fresh mandarin fish and sturgeon from the Yangtze River using traditional methods, these fish balls are as white as jade, round and plump, melting in your mouth 💦 As the grand finale of a banquet, they embody the meaning of "reunion and filial piety." Chicken soup stewed with fish balls warms the heart and stomach, making them a must-have souvenir.
✅Tongshan Bao Tuo
A local delicacy wrapping up reunion! The outer skin, made from local sweet potato starch, is chewy and elastic, filled with a savory meat filling. The savory aroma and sweetness blend together, creating a rich and layered flavor in every bite 🥟 After hiking or exploring Yinshui Cave, a bowl of hot bao tuo is both heartwarming and filling.
🥧Intangible Cultural Heritage Souvenirs, Bringing the Fragrance of Osmanthus and the Charm of Tea Home
✅Xianning Osmanthus Cake
A sweet gift from the "Hometown of Chinese Osmanthus"! Made with premium osmanthus and silver osmanthus from Xianning, and refined from glutinous rice flour, this tea is white with a hint of yellow, adorned with delicate petals. It's sweet, soft, and melts in your mouth, with a delightful osmanthus aroma. 🌸 Perfect for gifting or keeping for yourself!
✅ Yangloudong Green Brick Tea
A living fossil of the ancient tea route! Tea-making techniques dating back to the Han and Jin dynasties give this green brick tea its unique flavor. The tea soup is mellow and sweet, warming and refreshing. 🍵 Pick up a couple of boxes while strolling through Yangloudong Ancient Town and unlock a healthy, slow-paced lifestyle.
Every delicacy in Hubei is a memory, every street and alley hides a story. This November, take this guide with you and let your taste buds travel through time!
Image courtesy of Hubei Culture and Tourism