Two Xi'an districts rank among China's top 100 for specialty foods

Xincheng and Lianhu districts in Xi'an, the capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, recently made the list of China's top 100 counties and county-level cities for specialty foods in 2021.

The list was co-published by Insight China magazine, along with several national government departments and professional organizations.

The selection process examined 2,758 counties and county-level cities across a range of categories, including specialty foods and snacks, catering culture, food festivals, online sales, time-honored brands, geographical indication product certifications, ethnic characteristics, intangible cultural heritage and food safety.

Located in the northeast of Xi'an, Xincheng district has a long history and profound culture. It is one of the three central urban areas of the city.

Yongxingfang in Xincheng district is a street known for its tasty food. It retains the original layout of an ancient lane and boasts a Guanzhong archway and building complex celebrating folk traditions.

Many Shaanxi specialty foods can be tasted here, including oil-sprayed noodles (youpo noodles), potato glutinous rice cakes, Zichang pancakes and gourd-shaped chicken (hulu chicken).

Lianhu district is also one of the central urban areas of Xi'an. The area played host to the palace and imperial complex of Daxing city in the Sui Dynasty (581-618) and Chang'an city in the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

In the district, residents and tourists can experience the flavorful snacks of the ancient capital city.

Take Beiyuanmen Street -- also known as Fangshang by local residents -- as an example. It possesses many ethnic snacks, including shredded pita bread soaked in mutton or beef soup, cured beef and mutton and soup dumplings.

In recent years, Xi'an has attached great importance to the promotion of food culture, relying on its regional advantages and unique cuisine to attract more tourists.