Ningbo Features

Introduction to Ningbo

Ningbo not only has beautiful mountains and clear waters, but has also been known to the world for its "four fragrances" (the fragrance of rice, fish, books and ink) since ancient times, and its products are extremely rich. The main specialties can be divided into several categories such as seafood, dried sea products, specialty foods, seasonal fruits, traditional handicrafts, and clothing. Seafood and dried seafood Ningbo is located at the estuary of the Yangtze River into the East China Sea. It has a long coastline and is a place where salt water and fresh water meet. The water is extremely rich in microorganisms, so the seafood tastes particularly delicious and has high nutritional value. Ningbo is one of the main areas rich in seafood in China, including yellow croaker, hairtail fish, cuttlefish, grouper, sweetfish, mudskipper, moray eel, swimming crab, shrimp, clams, razor clams, oysters, mud snails, gonggan, jellyfish, All kinds of seafood such as kelp and moss are available. Among the dried seafood, the most famous are yellow croaker, Mingfu flounder, red crab, drunk mud snail, dried shrimp, dried prawn, shrimp skin, fresh eel, jellyfish head, kelp, moss, grilled fish fillets, etc. Ningbo People like to give this specialty product as a gift to their relatives and friends.

Ningbo dumplings. Originally named Yuanxiao, according to research, Ningbo Tangtuan originated in the Song and Yuan Dynasties and has a history of more than 700 years. It is made of the local first-grade glutinous rice ground into powder, and the filling is made of delicate and pure white sugar, black sesame and high-quality lard. It is fragrant, sweet, fresh, smooth and glutinous. When you bite into the skin, you will feel the oily aroma. Overflowing, glutinous but not sticky, fresh and delicious, it is amazing and famous at home and abroad. Ningbo folk eat Ningbo glutinous rice dumplings every morning on the first day of the first lunar month to express joy, reunion and good luck. Some overseas Chinese like to eat a bowl of glutinous rice dumplings during festive seasons to express their homesickness. Since 1982, Ningbo dumplings have become the first snack variety exported overseas by Zhejiang Province. In 1997, it was selected as a famous Chinese snack.

Ningbo has a tradition of going out to do business. As more and more Ningbo people go to various places to open stores and do business, Ningbo dumplings are also spread to various places, and Ningbo dumpling shops are opened. Now, many cities in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Anqing and other places have Ningbo dumpling shops. After Ningbo opened to the outside world, Ningbo dumplings were also quick-frozen and exported.

Water-milled powder. Also known as glutinous rice flour, it is made of high-quality glutinous rice. It is fragrant and smooth. It is not only the main ingredient for making Ningbo glutinous rice dumplings, but also can be used to make various glutinous rice flour replicas such as Yuanxiao and sesame dumplings. It can also replace starch and serve as an agglomerate in cold drink products. agent.

Xikou Thousand Layer Cake. It is Ningbo specialty food. Thousand-layer cakes have been made in Xikou for more than 100 years. They have a square shape and 27 internal layers, with distinct layers, golden and green, crispy, sweet and salty, salty and fresh, with a unique flavor that makes you mouth-watering after eating. The fragrance lingers and you never get tired of eating it. Xikou Thousand Layer Cake has won many national and provincial famous specialty product awards, and has become a tourist food for Chinese and foreign tourists to taste and give as gifts to relatives and friends. Especially overseas tourists who have left their hometowns like to ask their relatives and friends who have returned home to take some back to comfort their homesickness. read. Thousand-layer cakes are not only popular in eastern Zhejiang, but also exported to Japan, Southeast Asian countries, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

Sanbei Bean Crispy Candy. It is a traditional and special pastry in Ningbo, famous in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and overseas. Sanbei Bean Crispy Candy has a long history of production and was first produced in Lubu Town, Yuyao more than 100 years ago. Tofu candy is rich in nutrients and contains protein, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene and other nutrients. It can maintain the characteristics of fragrant, sweet, crisp and loose for a long time. Now, Lubu Town in Yuyao, Shenshiqiao in Zhouxiang Town in Cixi and Ningbo Shengyangtai Tourism Food Factory are the main origins and production enterprises.

Sanbei lotus root candy. As famous as Sanbei Bean Crisp Candy, it is a native food of Ningbo and was once included as a tribute in the imperial diet. Sanbei lotus root candy is produced in Cixi. There are black or white sesame seeds on the outside of the column. It is crunchy, sweet and has a unique flavor.

Fenghua Taro Head (Arhat Sacred Fruit). "I've been through three passes and six docks, and I've eaten Fenghua taro head." People are proud to have eaten Fenghua taro head, which shows that this taro head is extraordinary. Fenghua taro heads are abundant in Xiaowangmiao Town and Xikou Town, Fenghua. The large fruit is rich in starch, fragrant and glutinous and delicious. It can be used as snacks, snacks, and "dogs"

Dogs (sheep) "Taro and taro stew", "Pork ribs and taro stew", "Seafood and taro stew", etc. have become a special dish.

Tea. Ningbo is surrounded by the Tiantai Mountains and the Siming Mountains, close to the sea and lakes, with abundant rainfall, and the high mountains are shrouded in clouds and mist all year round. Therefore, the quality of tea is excellent, such as "Wangfu Yinhao", "Ninghai No. 1 Tea", "Wanghai Tea", "Wanghai Tea" and "Wanghai Tea". Excellent brands such as "Waterfall Immortal Tea", "Siming Longjian", "Qinlv", "East China Sea Dragon Tongue", "Siming Twelve Thunder". Ningbo tea is best harvested before Grain Rain, and most of the harvesting time is around Qingming. It is famous for its bright green color, fresh and mellow taste, sweetness and long-lasting fragrance at the International Tea Expo.

Dried sheep tail bamboo shoots. One of the three famous local products in Fenghua, it is as famous as peach and taro head. It is processed from the locally abundant Asparagus bamboo shoots. It is called "dried sheep tail bamboo shoots" because it is shaped like a sheep bamboo shoot. The meat is white and yellow, delicious, nutritious, and has the effect of relieving summer heat and appetizing. Can be used for grilling, plain-cut or making soups.

Refined mustard. Pickled mustard is abundant in Yuyao and Zhenhai. It has a crisp and tender texture, bright color, unique aroma after processing, moderate salty and spicy taste, and fresh and refreshing taste. Yuyao's "Meifu" brand, Zhenhai's "Tongqianqiao" brand and "Yun" brand mustard are not only exported to more than 20 provinces and cities in China, but also to the United States, Japan, Hong Kong and Macao and other countries and regions. They are also refined into small packages as tourist food Mustard mustard, supplied to Chinese and foreign tourists. Qingqin soup.

Collectively known as dried Chinese cabbage or dried Chinese cabbage, it is a traditional specialty. In February and March, when a large number of winter rapeseed pods sprout, take the top three and four tender tips as raw materials, put them into boiling water and soak them for two or three minutes. When they are medium-cooked and medium-cooked, dry them again. Dry. Due to the special processing technology, most of the vitamin C and minerals in fresh vegetables are not damaged, so their color, aroma and taste are all good, which makes them attractive to the appetite. The general custom is to make a good soup. In the past, it was mostly processed by families for their own consumption or as gifts to relatives and friends in other places. Today, Qingqin soup is one of the "Kayizhi" green foods produced by Zhejiang Haitong Food Co., Ltd., which is supplied to cities such as Ningbo, Hangzhou, Shanghai and many overseas countries. It is also deeply loved by tourists and is a great gift.

rice cake. Replicas of traditional grains that have been produced for hundreds of years. There is a folk proverb in Ningbo that "rice cakes are better every year, and this year is even better than last year." Ningbo rice cake is made of high-quality late glutinous rice as the main raw material. It is as white as jade, soft and waxy, and will not burn after being cooked for a long time. It is not sticky when imported. Ningbo Cicheng Town and Yuyao Sanqi Town are now the main rice cake production bases in Ningbo. "Tapai" rice cakes are also exported to the United States, Canada, Singapore, Australia and other countries and Hong Kong and Macao.

Qiuai pickles. Ningbo specialty, rich in Qiuai Town, Yinzhou District, Ningbo, is the famous "Hometown of Pickles". Pickled with mustard greens, it has a bright yellow color, is fragrant, tender, fresh and slightly sour, and can stimulate the body's appetite. It can be eaten raw or used as an ingredient. There is a popular saying in Ningbo, "If you don't eat pickle soup for three days, your foot bones will be a little sore." This shows the role of pickles. Qiuai pickles have been processed for nearly a century and have created many famous brand products, such as "Dali" brand pickles, which use vacuum packaging and advanced fresh-keeping storage technology, making them popular at home and abroad.

Fenghua peach. A famous specialty of Zhejiang Province, it is abundantly produced in Fenghua City and has a cultivation history of nearly a hundred years. Fenghua peaches have bright color, thick flesh and thin skin, and sweet aroma. They are known as "Jade Nectar" and "Yaochi Treasure". The main varieties include Huang Yulu, Yulu peach, Yulu flat peach, etc. Fresh peaches are available in the market from late June to August every year. Peach is not only a favorite seasonal fruit, it contains a variety of nutrients such as fat, protein, inorganic salts, sugar, fiber and vitamins. It can also increase the body's bile secretion, promote gastrointestinal motility and treat constipation. Peach kernels can also be used as medicine.

Yangmei. The high-quality famous fruit is as famous as Fujian and Guangzhou lychees. It has been listed as a tribute as early as the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 BC) and is abundant in Yuyao and Cixi. The main varieties are white, red, pink, and black. The water chestnut and bayberry species from Sanqi Town, Zhangting Town, and Cixi Henghe Town in Yuyao are the top quality. The fruit is large, the core is small, and the juice is rich in flavor. sweet. Bayberry is rich in vitamin C, glucose, citric acid, malic acid, lactic acid and many other ingredients that are beneficial to the human body, and has certain pharmacological effects. "Compendium of Materia Medica" states that it "can quench thirst, harmonize the five internal organs, cleanse the intestines and stomach, and eliminate restlessness and bad odor". Processed into wine, Yangmei can also relieve fatigue, dissipate heat and drive away rheumatism. The "Dadi" brand red bayberry wine produced in Yuyao and the "Yongcheng" brand dry red bayberry wine produced in Xiangshan are very popular in the market. Yuyao and Cixi also use bayberry as a matchmaker. At the end of June every year when bayberry is on the market, they hold bayberry festivals and carry out economic, trade and cultural exchange activities.

Amakusa (citrus). Produced in Xiangshan and Ninghai, it is of high quality and has the characteristics of beautiful shape, bright color, juiciness, mellow aroma, rich flavor, and durability for storage and transportation. It is generally launched in October. Xiangshan County's "Elephant Mountain" brand ambrosia has also been listed as a recommended product for Ningbo tourism.

Strawberry. Due to the unique climate, Fenghua, Cixi, Yuyao and other places in Ningbo are rich in strawberries. Especially in Fenghua Shangtian Town, using exquisite cultivation technology, large-area greenhouse strawberries are bright red, with fine flesh, juicy and fragrant, and excellent quality, which are loved by consumers. "Fengguan" brand Shangtian strawberries have also been listed as recommended products for Ningbo tourism.

Kumquat. Also known as kumquat, it is one of the best fruits and has a cultivation history of more than 300 years. Beilun Chaiqiao and Sanshan areas in Ningbo are located on the coast of eastern Zhejiang, with a warm and humid climate and acidic mountain soil, which is very suitable for the growth of kumquats. Mainly made of golden bullets, ribs, golden dates, golden beans, etc. Among them, golden bullets are the best, with sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and numb flavors, and are called "five-flavor fruits." Kumquat is rich in nutrients and contains a large amount of vitamin C, protein, sugar, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and other nutrients. It also has the outstanding effects of appetizing, smoothing gas, digesting and reducing phlegm.

"Diaohong" (persimmon). Every year after autumn, it begins to mature gradually, turning from green to red. It is very beautiful hanging on the tree, so Ningbo area calls it "Hanging Red". Produced in Dalan Town (Shilin Village), Yuyao, the "Shilin" brand is large, soft and sweet. In addition to being eaten raw, it is also processed into persimmons and entered into the market.

Honey pear. Also known as Huanghuali, it is abundant in Zhouxiang Town and Andong Town in Cixi. Honey pears are different from ordinary pears in that they are large, extremely hydrated and extremely nutritious. Because honey pears are so beautiful when they bloom and bear fruit, the large pear orchards in the two towns have also become popular tourist destinations.

Kiwi. A treasure among fruits, it is known as the "King of Vitamin C" abroad. Because of its vines climbing on rocks and woods, it is commonly known as vine pears. Ninghai has many mountains and streams and a humid climate, which is very suitable for the natural growth of kiwi fruit. According to surveys, the county has nearly 10,000 acres of kiwi fruit resources.

Kiwi fruit not only has tender pulp, is fragrant and juicy, sweet and sour, but also contains sugar, fat, protein and minerals such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium. It has particularly high vitamin content and its nutritional value is several to several times higher than that of citrus and apples. Ten times the amount, it has the functions of nourishing and strengthening the body, clearing away heat and diuresis, and has certain inhibitory effects on gastric cancer and esophageal cancer.

Bamboo (woven) handicrafts. Ningbo is rich in bamboo and has been engaged in bamboo making and bamboo weaving handicrafts for hundreds of years. Aizhong Township in Yinzhou is also known as the "Hometown of Bamboo Weaving". Its products are famous both at home and abroad for their exquisite shapes, meticulous weaving, and both practical and ornamental value. As Ningbo's foreign trade export products, they are exported to more than 30 countries and regions. Ningbo Shilin Crafts Co., Ltd. inherits the essence of Ningbo's traditional crafts and uses advanced large-scale production technology to make its products more imaginative, beautiful and fun. Its representative product "Shilin" craft chopsticks is positioned as green and environmentally friendly. It is exquisitely made and decorated with auspicious sayings such as "family portrait", "more than enough year after year", "good luck every year", etc. It has been designated as a diplomatic gift by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country. Ningbo locals prefer to use "Shilin" craft chopsticks as gifts for friendly exchanges with foreign countries and gifts between relatives and friends. As a recommended product for Ningbo tourism, it won the silver medal in the first China Tourism Souvenir Design Competition in 2002 and the gold medal in Zhejiang Province.

Yue kiln celadon. my country's famous porcelain. As early as 1,700 years ago in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, products were used as tributes and spread to Korea, Japan and other countries. Since the Tang Dynasty, Shanglinhu kiln has become the representative of Yue kiln. A large number of porcelains have been exported from Ningbo Port to Southeast Asian countries, and even exported to Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, etc., becoming the main export product of Ningbo's "Maritime Silk Road" and well-known overseas. Yue kiln celadon is as white as mutton fat, as smooth as jade, with a crystal-clear glaze. It has a beautiful appearance and is very delicate. It is known as "round like the moon when the soul falls, and as light as the cloud when the soul rises". The products designed and produced by Ningbo Mingzhou Yue Kiln Celadon Co., Ltd. have high artistic value such as the "Bingdilian" pair of bowls and the "Celadon inlaid square crane pattern plum vase". They won the Silver Award and the Excellence Award respectively in the 2002 China Tourist Souvenir Design Competition, and Zhejiang Province Silver Medal and Gold Medal. It is now widely adopted as a gift by governments at all levels and other departments.

Elephant mountain bamboo root carving. Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, local artists have made full use of the abundant bamboo resources and the natural shapes of bamboo roots to carve various figures, Buddha statues, animals, etc., with simple and vivid images. In recent years, Xiangshan bamboo root carving technology has developed rapidly, and its products are sold to Japan, Southeast Asian countries and Hong Kong. Ningbo Hongda Root Carving Co., Ltd.'s "Yu Bei" bamboo root carving also won the Excellence Award in the 2002 China Tourist Souvenir Design Competition.

Bone and wood inlay. The essence of Ningbo's traditional handicrafts has a history of more than 1,000 years. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, Ningbo's bone and wood inlay production techniques kept pace with Yangzhou's mother-of-pearl inlay and Guangzhou's ivory inlay. Ningbo bone wood inlay uses a variety of materials such as mother-of-pearl, ivory, Chinese bone, boxwood and colored stones. It is carefully made into decorative patterns such as flowers and birds, landscapes, ladies, etc., and is embedded in hardwood blanks such as mahogany and rosewood, and is finely polished. , painted with Chinese lacquer, is made into high-end traditional furniture, architectural decorations, screens and pen holders, pen holders, paperweights, tea cans, jewelry boxes and other handicrafts. Some of the outstanding works have won the China Handicraft Hundred Flowers Award and the Hong Kong Art Fair. Creative Design Gold Cup Award, Singapore Asia Pacific Furniture Expo Creative Award. The three-piece stationery set of rosewood pen holder, business card holder and paperweight created by Ningbo Zilin Study Studio also won the silver medal in the 2002 China Tourist Souvenir Design Competition.

Bamboo carving of Huanhuang. Ningbo traditional crafts have a history of more than 100 years. Split the green bark of large moso bamboo, peel it in layers, turn out the bamboo springs, and then process them into various crafts by shaping, painting, carving, and painting. There are more than 100 varieties, such as mirror boxes, baskets, vases, animal accessories, large screens, etc. It is engraved with figures, landscapes, flowers and birds, and the images are realistic and lifelike. The engraved works have both the traditional Chinese line drawing and the simple and vigorous flavor of seal cutting. They combine ornamental and practical aspects and are very popular at home and abroad.

Golden lacquer. Ningbo's lacquerware craftsmanship has a long history. A wooden bowl painted with vermilion paint unearthed from the Hemudu site, which has a history of 7,000 years, is evidence of this. Ningbo gold lacquer uses Chinese raw lacquer as the main raw material, and the lacquerware is mainly made of wood, but also bamboo chips and bamboo braiding. The production is divided into three categories: floating flowers, flat flowers and sunken flowers. The main products include screens, drum stools, coffee tables, fruit bowls, TV cabinets, bookcases, writing desks, etc. It is one of the main exported handicrafts in Ningbo City.

Zhujin wood carving. Also known as lacquered wood carving, it is a famous traditional craft in Ningbo. The composition is full, the content is mostly about auspicious events and folklore, and the pictures are colorful, forming a unique local style. Screens, cabinets, ancient figures, Buddha statues, animals, lanterns, etc. made of red gold wood carvings are exported to many countries in Europe, America, and Asia.

Ningbo straw mat. Also known as "Ming Xi", "Yong Xi", commonly known as "Hua Zi", it is a famous specialty of Ningbo, and Huanggulin in Yinzhou, Xixiang, Ningbo is the most famous. The product has the characteristics of fine grass, white roots, clear color, smooth and straight, elastic grass core, strong sweat (water absorption) ability, etc. It is particularly cool and comfortable to sleep on the mat. Straw mats are divided into two categories: those with hemp as the diameter are called hard mats, those with white linen as the diameter are top grade and will not leak when water is poured on them; those with yarn as the diameter are called soft mats. Mats can generally be used for twenty or thirty years and enjoy a high reputation abroad. Now according to market needs, new products such as sofa seats, car cushion seats, and modular folding seats have also been developed.