What Specialties Does Jiujiang Have?

Jiujiang boasts abundant natural resources. It long ago became one of China’s Four Great Rice Markets and Three Major Tea Markets. To the east lies Poyang Lake, a well-known land of fish and rice; the Yangtze River runs along its northern border; and the Lushan Mountains stand in the south. Tourists can choose from a rich variety of local products: Lushan Cloud and Mist Tea, aged Fenggang Rice Wine from Jiujiang, Xiushui Ninghong Black Tea, and Hukou fermented black beans.

In addition, visitors can buy the famous "Three Treasures of Lushan": Lushan stone frogs, Lushan stone fish and Lushan stone ears. They are premium cooking ingredients used in classic local dishes such as braised stone frogs and scrambled eggs with stone fish.

Among all Lushan specialties, Cloud and Mist Tea enjoys the highest reputation. Ranked among China’s Top Ten Famous Teas, it was first cultivated in the Han Dynasty, gained widespread fame in the Tang Dynasty, and was designated as imperial tribute in the Song Dynasty. The tea features tight, slender tea leaves covered with fine white hairs. The liquor is clear and bright, with a sweet, mellow taste and a lasting refreshing aroma. It can soothe the mind, quench thirst, aid digestion, lower blood pressure and improve physical and mental health.

Fresh Lushan bamboo shoots are widely recognized as pollution-free health and beauty food, popular with consumers. They are high-protein, low-fat, low-sugar and high-fibre produce. The protein contains 17 amino acids, including 8 essential amino acids for the human body.

Historical research confirms that traditional fermented fish originated at the confluence of Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River in the late primitive society, hence the name Hukou fermented fish. Starting from the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, this product was presented to the imperial court as a local tribute. It is made from fresh fish caught in Poyang Lake, Asia’s largest unpolluted freshwater lake, and pickled following traditional techniques. With a mild, salty and fresh flavour, it is an ideal snack for travel and a fine gift for relatives and friends.

Lushan stone fish are transparent and scaleless, usually 30 to 40 millimetres long, about the size of a rusty needle. Even after seven or eight years of growth, they are no longer than one inch, earning them the nickname "rusty needle fish". These fish live all year round in mountain springs and waterfalls of Lushan, nesting in rock crevices along the water currents. They dwell in mountain streams in Lushan; small and slightly flat, they have tender, delicious meat with a rich flavour, famous nationwide. Stone fish can be stir-fried, braised, stewed or soaked. They are highly nutritious and make an excellent tonic for new mothers.

Lushan stone frogs are mottled frogs inhabiting rocky caves along shaded mountain streams. Also known as red frogs or spiny-headed frogs, they are ochre-coloured with small forelimbs and strong hind legs. They get their name from their tender, chicken-like meat. Stone frogs hide in stone caves by day and hunt at night. They look similar to ordinary frogs but grow much larger and fatter. Most weigh 150 to 200 grams, and the largest ones can reach 500 grams.

Lushan stone ear belongs to the same family as black fungus. It is a wild lichen growing on remote, steep cliffs. Flat and ear-shaped, it clings firmly to rock surfaces, which gives it its name. Stone ear is extremely nutritious, rich in glycogen, collagen, iron, phosphorus, calcium and multiple vitamins. It is a high-quality high-protein tonic that nourishes yin and moisturizes the lungs.

Photinia wood combs are a traditional craft product of Xiushui County. The teeth stay smooth without catching hair, effectively removing dandruff and relieving itchiness. They cause no irritation to hair roots and scalps and rarely generate static electricity. Long-term use can activate cranial nerves. The combs produced by Xiushui Arts and Crafts Factory feature exquisite craftsmanship with patterns of figures, flowers, birds and beasts. They are exported to the United States, Britain, Japan, the Netherlands and other countries. They are popular hair ornaments among foreign women and highly valued collectibles.

The Ochre Ink Slab gets its name from its predominantly ochre stone. Wan Chengfeng, a native of Xiushui who served as Emperor Daoguang’s reader in the Qing Dynasty, presented this ink slab to the emperor, who cherished it as a treasure. It was later listed as imperial tribute and is also known as the Tribute Ink Slab. The slab is mainly ochre green with emerald inclusions and occasional blood-red veins. It grinds ink quickly, retains water without drying up, resists freezing in cold weather, and keeps ink well without damaging writing brushes.

Lushan bamboo silk painted curtains are as thin as fine cloth, smooth and soft, easy to roll up or hang, elegant and tasteful. Hung in studies and halls, they brighten up rooms; used as door curtains, they let fresh air pass through; collected as works of art, they fully embody the charm of traditional Chinese painting. The bamboo silk curtains, screens and embroidered curtains made by Lushan Arts and Crafts Factory feature superb craftsmanship. Praised by visitors at home and abroad, they are known as "art treasures of Lushan, China".