What Special Local Products Are There in Baoding?

Baoding Daoxiangcun mainly produces over 300 varieties of products including northern and southern Chinese and Western pastries, glutinous rice balls, mooncakes, poultry meat products, fruit juices and preserved fruits. Featuring southern-style flavors with both sweet and salty tastes, its pastries taste refreshing and can boost appetite after eating.

Recommendation Rating: ★★★★ Reason for Recommendation: Time-honored pastry brand in Baoding Address: 500 meters north of the intersection of Qiyi Road and North Great Wall Street

First produced in the 10th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1671 AD), Baoding wheat paste boasts a history of nearly 400 years. Huaimao Sweet Wheat Paste delivers a smooth sweet taste and rich nutrition. The reason why Baoding snacks enjoy nationwide popularity and win locals’ favor largely lies in this seasoning added to stir-fries, stews and braised dishes.

When you go home for the Spring Festival, your parents will surely cook plenty of delicious dishes. Why not bring Baoding wheat paste back to let your family taste authentic Baoding flavors?

Recommendation Rating: ★★★★ Reason for Recommendation: Nutritious and healthy condiment Where to Buy: Available in all major supermarkets and shopping malls across Baoding

Baoding preserved vegetables have a history of more than 300 years. The brand got its name from a lush ancient pagoda tree standing at the gate of its original store. With a long history, exquisite craftsmanship and a wide range of varieties, Huaimao preserved vegetables feature well-balanced flavors of fragrance, saltiness, sweetness, sourness and spiciness with a tender, crisp texture.

Recommendation Rating: ★★★★ Reason for Recommendation: Centuries-old Huaimao preserved vegetables Address: Huaimao Preserved Vegetable Factory, Middle Qiyi Road

Founded in 1945, Hebei Baoding Liquor Industry Co., Ltd. has a 70-year history and is the only local aged liquor distillery located in downtown Baoding. To commemorate its 70th anniversary and celebrate the 2016 New Year, the company launched a limited-edition aged raw liquor named "Old Baoding". This liquor was personally appraised by master tasters in the liquor industry, and its bottle is an exquisite masterpiece crafted by Jingdezhen ceramic masters. It revives not only classic flavors but also artistic craftsmanship.

Recommendation Rating: ★★★★★ Reason for Recommendation: Limited New Year commemorative release Purchase Method: Click "Little Guide Shop" at the bottom right corner of the complete guide platform

A renowned specialty of Baoding, Hebei, it ranks alongside the Three Treasures of Baoding (Blacksmith Wang’s iron balls, Baoding wheat paste and Baoding spring preserved vegetables). Cooked donkey meat is stuffed into a baked flatbread, which has a crispy crust, while the donkey meat is tender without greasiness and leaves a mellow aftertaste.

Recommendation Rating: ★★★★★ Reason for Recommendation: Iconic Baoding classic snack Recommended Restaurant: Yan’s Old Donkey Meat Restaurant

A specialty of Quyang, these cakes are thin, fragrant and crispy. True to their name, they are baked inside large clay vats. They make great snacks for children when you go home for the New Year, though their hard texture makes them unsuitable for the elderly. They are easy to store and do not spoil quickly, but keep them away from moisture.

Recommendation Rating: ★★★ Reason for Recommendation: Popular snack for kids at home

Known as "tofu tendons", five-spice shredded tofu strips from Gaobeidian are made from premium soybeans through multiple procedures including soaking and fine grinding. They feature a pure texture, firm elasticity, creamy yellow color and uniform strips with a rich savory taste, an ideal vegetarian side dish for daily meals and trips. Perfect to take home as wine accompaniments for the Spring Festival.

Recommendation Rating: ★★★★ Reason for Recommendation: Premium delicacy for New Year feasts

If you visit Baoding without trying the giant loaves from Bell Tower Bakery, your trip is incomplete. These loaves cannot be bought easily even with money — you have to queue up! Waiting in a long line to buy a few large loaves before heading home is a unique local experience.

Recommendation Rating: ★★★★ Reason for Recommendation: Iconic bread that requires queuing to buy Address: B1 Floor, Bell Tower Commercial Building, No.233 West Yuhua Road

Ranked first among the Three Treasures of Yesanpo, thin-shell walnuts have easy-to-crack shells and plump kernels. Baoding’s thin-shell walnuts can rival American "Diamond" walnuts. They are perfect New Year gifts for elders, as they nourish the brain, lower lipids, tonify the kidney and strengthen the body, earning them the reputation of "brain gold" and "longevity fruit".

Recommendation Rating: ★★★★★ Reason for Recommendation: Easy to eat, great for elderly health care

Freshly baked mung bean cakes are piping hot with crumbly thin wrappers that crumble at a touch. They are filled with abundant mung bean paste that melts in the mouth without any greasiness. Highly recommended! Note that there is a purchase limit for these cakes.

Recommendation Rating: ★★★★★ Reason for Recommendation: Trendy popular mung bean pastry Address: Near Bell Tower Commercial Building, No.233 West Yuhua Road (sold all over Baoding; queue at the nearest shop)

There are more than ten varieties of Fuping jujubes including Po jujube, gourd jujube, large hemp jujube, small hemp jujube and water caltrop jujube. They feature large size, thin skin, tiny pits and thick flesh, essential ingredients for making New Year rice cakes, congee and various dishes, suitable for all ages.

Recommendation Rating: ★★★★★ Reason for Recommendation: Healthy home cooking ingredient

A specialty of Baiyangdian Lake in Anxin County, Baoding, Hebei. The duck eggs have cyan smooth shells and are locally called "green fruits". Their bright red yolks are rich in nutrients and suitable for all ages.

Recommendation Rating: ★★★★★ Reason for Recommendation: Classic side dish to pair with alcohol

One of the Three Treasures of Baoding, iron balls are a favorite fitness tool among locals. Rotating the balls in hands can dredge meridians, strengthen bones and muscles, and regulate qi and blood, making them ideal New Year gifts for elders.

Recommendation Rating: ★★★★★ Reason for Recommendation: Perfect gift for senior family members