Hello, I'm Nankang

? School of Information Science and Engineering? Xiao Fangyan

On the other side of the sun:

Hello, Rizhao, my friend! Maybe you don't know me, but you know that when my child just came back from your university in winter vacation, he excitedly said that you were friendly, beautiful and generous and asked us to be bosom friends. The so-called "it's a pleasure to have friends in the distance"! Now through this letter, I want you and the people there to get to know me better, so that we can get to know each other. Please allow me to formally introduce myself. Hello, I'm Nankang!

I heard that you are a coastal city in the east of Shandong, but I don't think you have heard of me. I belong to the district now, slightly lower than your level, but don't underestimate me. I am in the west of Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, located in the Zhangjiang River Basin, the source of Ganjiang River, which is also the hub of land and water transportation. The child mentioned that the sunshine in your place is not good, and the place is as the name suggests. My name also has some historical origins. It was once called Nan 'an County because it is connected with Lingnan and people live in peace. Later, it was renamed Nankang County in the first year of Jin Taikang, and later it was called Nankang District because of history and policy. Because of the humid subtropical monsoon climate, the weather here is highly respected. Some tourists once lamented "good wind, good rain and good weather". Officially, I am called "the hometown of Hakka singing and dancing in China", "the hometown of honey pomelo in China" and "the hometown of navel orange". Don't think I'm bragging, I'll just choose a few of my characteristics to write with you and see how this is different from the local customs in the north.

Children are greedy, so I'll talk about eating specialties first. It is under the name of "the hometown of sweet pomelo" that the pomelo here is really delicious. People in the industry always evaluate "tender meat, sweet juice, high quality and unique flavor". Sweet pomelo is favored by people because of its health care functions such as clearing liver, improving eyesight, nourishing heart and moistening lung, relieving cough, resolving phlegm and lowering cholesterol. There are many kinds of Shatian pomelo in Hakka, so when guests visit, they must eat these sweet pomelo to satisfy their hunger.

Speaking of vegetables, I have a unique "poached egg" here. Lotus leaf is wrapped in pork belly and glutinous rice flour, which is delicious and full of flavor. This is a top-notch dish. It has many advantages! During the Qianlong period, Dai Quheng, the famous champion, entertained the elderly in the neighborhood. After dinner, everyone gave a cut pork wrapped in lotus leaves. Because it was sent by the champion, the old people couldn't separate it, so they steamed the meat and lotus leaves together in a wooden steamer. Open the lid of the wooden retort, and the fragrance of lotus leaves and meat will waft and taste delicious. Moreover, at the banquet, it is also very particular to open the purse. Generally, it needs the cooperation of an old man and a young man at the banquet to open it, commonly known as "bud opening". Hakka people here have always advocated frugality, and all the dishes that can't be eaten at the banquet should be wrapped in lotus leaves and taken home for the family members who didn't attend the banquet. This custom has been handed down.

On holidays, there are delicious Huangyuan preserved rice and peanut cakes. The preserved rice is a little similar to the rice cake in your north, but the production process is very complicated. After cooking, rice dyed with gardenia fruit and other ingredients is hammered in a stone mortar until it becomes tough ... Peanut cake with the reputation of "Moon Bar" is a delicious dish to send guests away and answer friends, and large peanuts are used to decorate the oil. Have a chance to let your children come to see me!

Rich and beautiful things, outstanding people. Although I dare not boast that I have arrived at the Wang Teng Pavilion, I can still mention places of interest and literati. My scope is not large, but I can find historical sites in some small towns and villages, such as the Han and Tang tombs in Shijie, Shi Mao, Longhui and Xihua, which show my splendid ancient culture. Nanshan Forest Park, Shengfo Temple, Dongshan Park and Xushan Martyrs Cemetery can be visited. The hills around me stretch and many areas are being developed. I believe there will be more interesting places here in the near future. Many villages and towns have beautiful scenery and are suitable for tourists to visit. For example, Long Mu and Daping Township ... Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, poets such as Jia Dao and Su Dongpo have sung poems about harmony here, leaving many famous sayings. Su Shi was demoted to Lingnan because of Wutai poetry case, and passed by my place, praising "one guest grows thousands of oranges, and one guest comes to look for flowers", "Pumice withers before frost, Jiaoxi tries tea before rain". Huang, the "first person in desert landscape painting" in China, learned and edified his enterprising quality and desert customs from people in my land.

You see, I told you something about my local customs and food. Although it is not much, it is enough for guests from afar to travel. I really want to make friends with you, or even make more friends, so that more people can know and understand me. However, as long as China keeps our friendship, heaven will remain our neighbor. I hope my introduction will make us closer and more friendly! I also hope that more guests from afar will come!

? Ji' an Nankang