Local Specialties of Ya'an

Famous for its bright red color, plump grains, rich oil content, strong aroma and mellow numbing taste, Hanyuan Chinese prickly ash boasts a long history. It was designated as a tribute to the imperial court as early as the Tang Dynasty, hence also known as Tribute Prickly Ash.

A renowned specialty of Shimian County, Ya'an, the loquat features large fruits, an intense sweet flavor and tender, juicy flesh, ranking among the finest loquat varieties in China. Rich in dietary fiber, pectin, carotene and malic acid, it is a nutritious health fruit.

Once served exclusively for imperial families, Tianquan tribute rice has translucent grains with a delicate fragrance. Its plant has pale green and slightly wrinkled leaves. Adding a handful of this rice to ordinary rice while cooking will make the rice snow-white, moist and full of aroma. Spindle-shaped, the rice grains are white, soft and highly nutritious.

Ya'an is abundant in tea, and Mengding Tea enjoys a great reputation. Grown on Mengshan Mountain, the tea leaves are tightly rolled with fine white hairs, presenting a tender green and glossy appearance. When brewed, the tea tastes sweet and fresh with a yellowish-green liquor. A lingering fragrance rises above the cup and lasts for a long time. Regular consumption helps invigorate the spleen and stomach and prolong life, earning it the laudatory name of Fairy Tea.

As a distinctive local fruit of Shimian County, Ya'an, it is a natural hybrid of mandarin and orange, combining the characteristics of both fruits. The fruit is obovate with bright orange, glossy and oil-slicked peel. The rind is thin and easy to peel. Its flesh is crisp, tender, seedless and juicy, with a refreshing sweet-and-sour taste and a subtle pleasant aroma.

In downtown Ya'an, shopping venues are mainly distributed along the south bank of the Qingyi River, where the municipal government is located. Most stores cluster along West Middle East Street, Xinmin Street, South Qiangjiang Road and Xinkang Road.