What delicious food can you try in Dongying?

Dongying’s cuisine draws on a wide range of ingredients and integrates culinary flavors from all across China. There are light and aromatic seafood, tender-inside-crisp-outside Yellow River knife fish with a refreshing crisp taste, distinctive ethnic minority dishes, and rustic farm pancakes unique to the area. All these delicacies are so tempting that passersby will stop to savor them and linger reluctantly.

The fresh fish soup from the old course of the Yellow River boasts an unparalleled delicious taste. The fish meat is delicate with a natural subtle sweetness, and the soup itself is incredibly savory. Milky white in color, the soup is covered with a thin golden layer of oil that locks in its original umami flavor. Tender fish flesh lies beneath the broth. You cannot wait long to take a bite; it carries a gentle sweet taste and a wonderful texture, with no fishy odor even when cold.

Donkey meat is simmered with traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, so it can be preserved for a long time without spoiling. Chefs follow precise ratios for seasonings, carefully control the heat during stewing, and balance the donkey meat with oil, water and aged stock. Properly prepared braised donkey meat features an even hue all the way through. It tastes savory with a rich lingering aroma and never feels greasy.

A must-try specialty in Dongying, Lijin pan-fried dumplings originated in the Qing Dynasty and gained nationwide fame during the Republic of China era. Made with fermented dough, they come with meat or vegetarian fillings. Each dumpling undergoes three cooking stages: boiling, steaming and pan-frying after being placed in the wok. It perfectly combines the advantages of boiling and frying, presenting a golden appearance with one crispy bottom and three soft tender sides. The wrappers are thin while the fillings are generous, delivering a fragrant non-greasy flavor.