Established in June 1973, Dawukou District is an old industrial city developed from coal mining and manufacturing, and home to the government organs of Shizuishan. In the Ming Dynasty, it was called "Dawei Kou", meaning a mountain pass for chiseling stone mills. It enjoyed strategic geographical importance, as an ancient saying goes that this pass was vital for long-term governance.

In 1943, Li Hanyuan, Director of Construction of Ningxia Province in the Republic of China period, renamed it Dawukou, literally "the pass where warriors once fought". The place attracted numerous migrants and formed a diverse culture, giving birth to the distinctive Dawukou cold noodle jelly.

Though less than 100 kilometers away from Yinchuan, it differs greatly from Yinchuan-style cold noodle jelly in appearance and taste. In particular, the rolled cold noodle jelly is unique in Northwest China. Similar rolled cold noodle jelly is also a traditional snack in Puyang, Henan Province. It is made by wrapping shredded cucumber, roasted peanuts, gluten and coriander mixed with sesame paste and seasonings in a large sheet of cold noodle jelly, popular among young people and office workers as a quick meal. The historical connection between the two styles remains unclear, yet both represent distinctive innovations of cold noodle jelly.

Famous old brands in Dawukou include Three Residences Cold Noodle Jelly, One Tree Cold Noodle Jelly, Three Buildings Cold Noodle Jelly and No.905 Xiao Liu’s Cold Noodle Jelly, all with a history of over 20 years. Made purely by hand, they are often in short supply, and queuing up to buy cold noodle jelly has become a unique street scene.

With the popularity of online shopping, local stores have opened Taobao shops to expand sales channels. However, most traditional shops lacked improvement in store image and service quality. In recent years, local entrepreneurs have seized business opportunities: some run online purchasing and promotion services, some build standardized processing factories and provide city-wide delivery in Hangzhou. Investors have also opened brand stores in Yinchuan and built central kitchens in Dawukou, planning to launch dozens of direct-operated stores. Capital investment is poised to revitalize this time-honored local snack.