The City in Favor of History and Food

Last week we discussed two main tourist attractions in Xi'an, the City Wall and the Terracotta Army, and they are of great significance in history of Xi'an, and even of China. Besides these two major historical spots, I mentioned about the Bell Tower, and it plays an essential role in the city as well. However, it is not famous for its historic appeals (well it does have an important history background); it is the landmark of the beginning of our food tour on the Muslim Snack Street in Xi'an. 




















Praised as 'the capital of table delicacies', Xi'an has been rich in the delicious Shanxi snack, delicate Guangdong Cuisine, various kinds of fashionable foreign delicacies, and popular Sichuan Cuisine such as the hot pot. Among all the delicacies, the most famous and popular one is the Muslim Snack Street. 

Walking along the Muslim Snack Street, I tried hundreds and thousands dishes that some of them I couldn't even say their names. From my personal perspective and also according to the research I did among my friends from Xi'an, I listed the following top three dishes: 

1. Rou Jia Mo (Chinese Hamburger)

Are you looking for a meaty snack that you can hold in your hands when browsing on the street? Well, Rou Jia Mo would definitely be your favorite choice. Unlike the burgers served at Burger King which you are familiar with, Rou Jia Mo is something to be relished——the bread is chewy, and the meat inside is soft. When I finished one, I could still taste the endless savor in my mouth. 

Typically this popular snack has two parts: the Mo, "a round wheat bread baked over a fire that originally hails from Xianyang City in Shaanxi Province" (He), and the meat inside. Traditionally the type of meat is found in two varieties: lazhirou jiamo, which is made with pork in gravy, and yangrou roujiamo, which is made with lamb. The former is more ordinary and popular in Xi'an.

2. Liang Pi (Cold Skin Noodle)
















Every time I can't help myself mouthwatering when I recall this signature dish of Xi'an. Liang Pi is usually made from flour or rice flour. But the ones made from flour is much chewer and the ones made from rice flour is much softer. It has a diversity of ways to make, yet the Qinzhen style is the most prominent which has been well-known for more than two thousands years in history. The well-mixed noodles reveal a palatable red color, shocking you with the refreshing spicy taste, and making you addict to it.


3. Ba Bao Fan (Eight Delicacies Rice)

Ba Bao Fan is a traditional dessert in Chinese New Year. The soft rice and sweet fruits are combined together to serve for a nutritious purpose. The origin of the name "Eight Delicacies Rice" is that it is often made of eight specific materials representing viable meanings. Lotus seed implies bringing felicity to a marriage; longan and orange stand for unity and luck respectively; red dates symbolize having a baby as asoon as you wish; cherry represents sweet love; perl barley is the symbol of elegance; melon seed means a safe trip; red plum and green plum are the meaning of smoothly life and longevity each.

This one is actually my favorite because the flavor is similar to South part of China where I come from. Moreover, it always reminds me of my grandmother who used to make Ba Bao Fan for me in my childhood; the taste is indelible for me.

Merely listing those three dishes can not portray the image of a food paradise in Xi'an. There are many more delicious food on Muslim Snack Street, such as Yang Rou Pao Mo(Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup), Feng Zhen Rou(Steamed pork with rice and flour), and Qiaomian(Buckwheat Noodle). If you ever visit Xi'an, you will never be hungry because Xi'an is never lack of luxury for your tongue.

Work Cited

He, Juling. "The World of Chinese." The World of Chinese. N.p., 3 Mar. 2012. Web. 05 Oct. 2016.