What delicious food can you try at Longhu Mountain?

Though it looks like an ordinary tofu dish, Shangqing Tofu is a signature delicacy of Longhu Mountain with a long history and great reputation. Thanks to the pristine water of Luxi River, time-honored craftsmanship and premium raw materials, the tofu is white, tender, smooth, fragrant and savory. It tastes even better when cooked with shiitake mushrooms, fermented black beans, chili peppers and minced pork.

Few people would think of pairing chestnuts with stewed local chicken, yet this is a beloved local specialty here. Legend goes that while the chef at the Heavenly Master Mansion was stewing chicken, the master’s son playfully tossed some chestnuts into the pot. To everyone’s surprise, the finished dish gave off an irresistible aroma, and the recipe has been passed down ever since. The local chestnuts are plump, sweet and luscious. Slow-braised with free-range farm chicken, this dish boasts perfect color, aroma and flavor.

This grand feast was originally prepared for guests of the Heavenly Masters, so getting to taste it is truly a memorable experience. The most distinctive feature lies in the arrangement of dishes, which strictly follows the eight directions of the Eight Trigrams. It starts with eight side dishes including fermented bean curd and candied winter melon, followed by eight main courses such as chestnut-braised chicken. With a rich variety of mouthwatering dishes, the feast is hearty enough to fill your stomach completely.

This simple steamed egg dish also has a poetic name — June Hot Jelly. It is said to have been served to an emperor during his visit to the Heavenly Master’s residence. Unlike regular steamed eggs, it uses brine from pickling vegetables instead of plain water. The dish delivers a wonderful mix of sour, spicy, fresh and aromatic flavors, tantalizing the taste buds and leaving a lingering aftertaste.

Fresh winter bamboo shoots from Longhu Mountain are big, plump, tender, white and fragrant. Stir-fried with fresh pork and salted pork, the dish releases an inviting smell as soon as the pot is opened. It features a crisp, tender and fresh taste that makes people want more. All ingredients are locally sourced with no additives, making it a pure, natural and delicious rural delicacy.

A distinctive local dish, it is made by slicing fresh pork thinly and coating the slices with rice flour or local kudzu starch. Seasonings like ginger, garlic, salt, dried radish and pickled vegetables are added, and taro slices are laid at the bottom before steaming. A rich aroma fills the air once cooked. The pork fully absorbs the blended flavors of all seasonings, tasting exceptionally savory.

Yujiang dried eggplant is a classic local snack of Longhu Mountain. Fresh eggplants are combined with chili peppers, garlic and glutinous rice, then processed through a series of traditional steps: steaming, boiling, sun-drying, wrapping, seasoning and preserving. The elaborate procedures create a refreshing, addictive flavor. Surprisingly, it also works well to relieve carsickness and morning sickness for pregnant women.