Drifting along with the flow of 1,300 years of history, the ancient town of Phoenix (Hunan, China) has an extremely rich culinary culture.
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| Phoenix Ancient Town is located in the west of Hunan province, a tourist attraction because of its rich culture and history. |
People say that if you want to understand a land, there is nothing better than discovering its cuisine. During my days wandering in Hunan, China, I had the opportunity to visit the ancient town of Phoenix - a land that is especially favored by nature when it is nestled under a mountain covered in mist and clouds, and surrounded by the winding blue Da Giang River.
Flowing with the flow of 1,300 years of history, the ancient town of Phoenix not only has a rich culture and impressive architecture but also possesses an extremely rich culinary culture. Home to many ethnic minorities, combined with a harmonious terrain of mountains and waters, the cuisine here is the crystallization and fusion of many cultures.
The weather in this ancient town is typical of the Tujia-Miao Xiangxi region: humid and cool during the day and cold at night. Therefore, the dishes will be prepared with a spicy, warm trend from fresh local ingredients.
Spicy fish hotpot
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| Famous spicy fish hotpot of Phoenix Town. |
With the chilly weather of Phoenix town, there is nothing better than enjoying a pot of steaming spicy fish hotpot with family and friends. The fish is caught directly from the Da Giang River so the flavor is very fragrant, the meat is white, chewy and fatty.
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| Spicy fish hotpot is suitable to eat with friends and relatives in cold weather. |
Not only is the hot pot spicy from chili, it is also seasoned with local ingredients to create a spicy flavor, including pepper. This is a spice with a hot numbing effect, completely different from the spicy taste from chili. Next to the spicy fish hot pot will be a plate of stir-fried vegetables, made from local vegetables.
The special thing about this hot pot dish is that it is served with rice, not with noodles like in Vietnam.
Stinky Tofu Palace
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| Hunan stinky tofu is jet black. |
Unlike the common white traditional stinky tofu in China, Hunan stinky tofu has a unique jet black color. Through the fermentation method with folk ingredients such as fresh bamboo shoots, soybeans, shiitake mushrooms and white wine, Hunan stinky tofu has a more distinctive flavor than ordinary tofu due to the long fermentation time and ancient recipe of the local people.
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| Hunan stinky tofu mixed with sesame oil, coriander and chili sauce. |
Described as “black as ink, soft as cheese, soft as velvet”, this is a dish that can make tourists hesitate with its distinctive aroma. Once diners overcome the smell barrier, the main reward is the rich taste of the tofu and the intoxicating aroma emanating from the crispy skin. Combined with sesame oil, coriander and chili sauce, this dish is not as difficult to eat as we imagine and promises to bring you an unforgettable experience.
Copper leaf cake
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| Special copper leaf cake. |
Dong Die cake is an important culinary feature in Miao ethnic culture. Miao people often give Dong Die cakes to each other during important holidays and Tet.
The cake is made from glutinous rice, sweet or savory filling, wrapped in leaves and steamed. Its sweet aroma and soft texture make it a popular snack when strolling through the narrow streets of the ancient town.
Da Giang River Jumping Shrimp Cake
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| Jumping shrimp cake is grilled on hot roasted pebbles. |
This dish is considered the culinary symbol of the ancient town of Phoenix and is sought after by most tourists who come to this place. Like the ingredients of spicy fish hotpot, jumping shrimp are caught directly from the Da Giang River so they are always fresh. Local people process it into hot fried shrimp cakes, fragrant and with a very characteristic sweet taste from fresh shrimp.
Shaokao skewers
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| Various types of grilled skewers are sold in Phoenix Town. |
Grilled skewers are a part of Chinese culinary culture in general. However, in the ancient town of Fenghuang, grilled skewers are marinated with traditional Hunan spices, creating a delicious, spicy and unique flavor. Grilled skewers are very suitable for cold weather or exploration trips along the Dajiang River.
Ginger Candy - Peanut Candy
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| Traditional candy in Phoenix town. |
The ancient town of Fenghuang has a tradition of making candy for over 100 years. The candies are all handmade in front of visitors from simple ingredients. The aroma of ginger and the sweet taste of the candy are perfect to warm up your body during your trip.
Xiangxi Smoked Bacon
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| Smoked meat is similar to Vietnamese smoked meat. |
With its mountainous terrain, smoked meat is also one of the specialties not to be missed when coming to Phoenix. The meat is marinated very carefully with traditional ingredients, then dried with fresh cedar wood.
The essential oil from cedar wood blends into the meat fibers, creating a dish with a special sweet aroma. Smoked meat can be used to make many delicious dishes, but the most popular is stir-fried bacon. The dish has a characteristic smoky aroma, is fatty, and goes well with rice.
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| Cedarwood essential oil blends into every fiber of the body. |
Although my stay in the ancient town of Phoenix was not long, it was enough for me to enjoy the architectural works imbued with national colors, as well as the ancient and poetic natural picture. The unique and extremely attractive cuisine here promises to be what keeps visitors coming back on every trip to explore this land.
China's Fenghuang Ancient Town is located in Fenghuang County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in western Hunan Province. This small town is about 53 kilometers from Jishou, about 92 kilometers from Huaihua Prefecture-level City, and about 280 kilometers from Zhangjiajie Prefecture-level City. Phoenix Ancient Town dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), is a famous tourist destination and was recognized as a world cultural heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2008. |
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