Xian Travel Guide
Fine Dried Noodles
It is another local specialty in Qianxian County. The flour of the wheat grown in the fields previously under cloverleaf is the first choice out of many in making fine dried noodles, for such flour tastes tough, smooth and delicious. This local specialty is well received far and wide in Shaanxi. As a matter of fact, making fine dried noodles has been a common household practice in this area all through the ages. When people go to visit relatives during New Year holidays or other festivals, they prefer to make a present of fine dried noodles. Judging from the quality of such a present, the host will find out whether the guest has managed his wheat fields well and whether his wife has clever hands.
Guokui
The Qianxian county is located northwest of Xi'an City. Wu Zetian and Emperor Gao Zong were buried on the Liangshan Moutain in this particular county. Qianxian county is well known to native of Shaanxi for its delicious snack, namely Guokui.
It is a kind of pancake and looks like a pan cover. There is a story about this local snack. As far back as the Tang Dynasty when Qianling Mausoleum was under construction, official supervisors worked out a tight schedule and even set limitations on mealtime in order to meet the deadline. So whoever was late for work would be reproached, punished or even killed. In this case, a soldier found a new way to prepare food. He put a mass of dough into his helmet and toasted it over a fire. The well-baked dough was dry, crisp and tasteful. When he was hungry, he just took several bites at it. Later, other soldiers and workmen followed suit one after another.
This special food was known as guokui or helmet cake, for it was initially baked in a helmet but not on a pan. The dough used to make goukui must be prepared in a limited amount of water and then kneaded repeatedly with a thick wooden stick. Guokui, in fact, can be stored for a very long time because it contains very little water or moisture content. It is a favorite take-away food among rural people in central Shaanxi Province.
Yangrou Paomo
The most famous dish in Xian. It is a tasty Xi'an specialty that consists of a mutton soup served with wheat flour flat bread. The hard bread is broken up and added to the soup. Then the mixture is eaten along with pickled garlic cloves.
It makes for a hearty, filling meal that is not very expensive. This Xi'an specialty can be found at several restaurants that have become famous for their delicious Yangrou Paomo, as well as a small "mom and pop" restaurants throughout Xi'an. Xiguan Beef and Lamb Paomo Restaurant, Tongshengxiang Beef and Lamb Paomo Restaurant, and Chunfasheng Paomo Restaurant are all good places to go for this tasty meal.
Yet another incredibly tasty variety of Chinese snack! These buns are actually a kind of dumpling that gets its name because of the juices that collect inside the bun when steamed. The bun's wrapper is thicker than most dumplings, but thinner than other steamed buns. With over ten types of seasoning, they are really quite delicious. With a little bit of vinegar, they can make for a very satisfying meal!
