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Baoshan cuisine is exemplified by Tengchong cuisine, with examples like Dajiujia (a type of rice noodle dish), Ersi (a type of rice noodle dish), and Dabopian (a type of sliced bread sliced). Other local specialties include soybean milk rice noodles, thin soybean powder, and chicken mushrooms with green chilies. Lancheng Road, near the Three Halls in Baoshan, is a renowned barbecue street, bustling with barbecue restaurants and food stalls at night.
"Da Jiujia" is a famous snack from Tengchong County, Yunnan Province. It's made from high-quality rice slices, then stir-fried with fresh meat, ham, eggs, mushrooms, and pickled chili peppers. It's soft, fragrant, and refreshing. Legend has it that in the late Ming Dynasty, after being pursued by Wu Sangui, the Yongli Emperor, Zhu Youlang, fled to Tengchong. Hungry and exhausted, villagers presented him with a local delicacy, stir-fried rice slices. The Yongli Emperor raved about it, declaring it a lifesaver, and the dish got its name. Da Jiujia can be found in most restaurants in Baoshan City and Tengchong County.
"Da Bo Pian" (big thin slices) is a dish that challenges a chef's knife skills. Made from pig ears, tongues, and snouts, it's prepared using a unique method. After being cooked and cooled, it's sliced into paper-thin slices as large as a palm. They're so thick they won't fall off a wall, hence the name. This dish is served in many restaurants throughout Baoshan City. Dipping it in the accompanying condiments creates a delicious, rich, and flavorful dish.
This affordable and delicious snack can be found at street stalls, restaurants, and bistros in Baoshan and Tengchong. Erkuai (rice cake) is a traditional Tengchong specialty, made with rice and topped with meat, ham, eggs, and mushrooms. Ersi (rice shreds) are made by shredding the erkuai (rice cake) into strips. Available in fresh or dried varieties, they are prepared much like erkuai. They are delicate yet chewy, offering an excellent and unforgettable taste.
Tengchong's thin bean flour is made into two types of pulp: a clear pulp and a thick pulp, which are then combined to make thin bean flour. There are also important rules for eating Tengchong's thin bean flour. A bowl of thin bean flour should be divided into three parts: one without seasoning, one lightly seasoned, and one with seasoning. These three parts are eaten in varying order, resulting in different flavors. In Heshun Town, Tengchong, there are several small shops specializing in bean flour. Their thin bean flour is delicious and worth trying.
The people of Shidian are experts in pickling. Their specialties—carved plums, bone grasshoppers, and water-fermented black beans—are three distinct flavors, one fruit, one meat, and one vegetable. Their unique flavors are mouth-watering and always evoke longing. Bone grasshoppers are a traditional winter must-have in every Shidian household. Fresh pork chops, spine, and a small amount of intestines and tripe are chopped into a uniform mass, mixed with various spices, and then pickled. The resulting dish is bright red, yet not greasy, with a rich, refreshing, and appetizing flavor. It's even more delicious when paired with white tofu. Carved plums are made from the local red-flowered large salt plums. They are delicate and charming, with a fragrant aroma and a sweet, sour, and crisp flavor that lingers. Water-fermented black beans are a staple of Shidian's urban and rural communities, especially those in the mountainous countryside. They are made by steaming and fermenting soybeans (soybeans or black beans) and then pickling them with shredded ginger, chili powder, and other spicy ingredients. Farmers in various counties and cities in Baoshan also pickle this food, but the color and taste of the food made by people in Shidian are still the best.
In summer and autumn, cleaned chicken mushrooms are stir-fried with salt and dried, then cut into thin strips or segments. Add diced red chili peppers and garlic, and deep-fry in walnut or peanut oil until they are not burnt. Once cooled, they can be stored in bottles for later consumption. Fried chicken mushrooms are a delicacy that can be combined with other ingredients to create a variety of dishes, offering a fragrant and mellow flavor. They can also be used as a topping for noodles and rice noodles, filling a bowl with a single serving.
The "Three Drops of Water" (三脱水) embodies the traditional Baoshan culinary culture and is considered the highest-level banquet in Heshun Township. The first drop primarily features dim sum and appetizers, such as dried fruits and cold dishes. The second drop, the "Eight Great Bowls," features Tengchong specialties like fire-baked bread and pocket-shaped tofu. The third drop includes desserts like sweet white wine and fruit. The "Three Drops of Water" menu encompasses nearly every local snack and specialty dish from Baoshan, including Yongchang pancakes, Tengchong Dajiujia (大救甲), Buddhist bean soup, Changning oil-fried chicken mushroom, Shidian water-dried fermented soy sauce, and Xiacun bean powder. While a full "Three Drops of Water" banquet is rarely available in restaurants, individual dishes from the banquet, such as chicken mushroom and bean powder, can be ordered a la carte.
Jar chicken is a Tengchong specialty. Originating in the late Ming Dynasty and flourishing in the early Qing Dynasty, this dish is prepared using a unique porcelain jar (or special clay pot) simmered with traditional imperial artifacts and blended with local Tengchong ingredients. Its golden, jade-like color is pure and long-lasting, neither dull nor greasy. A careful sip reveals crispy skin, tender meat, and crisp bones, leaving a mouthful of flavor.
Baoshan is home to numerous temples where monks and nuns abstain from meat and consume a vegetarian diet. To further promote vegetarianism, local monks and nuns have developed a unique vegetarian culture through their long mountain dwellings. These mountain vegetarian banquets are entirely handmade, with the most famous being at the Jade Buddha Temple on Taibao Mountain, the Lihuawu Temple on Jiulong Mountain, and the Laifeng Temple on Laifeng Mountain. These banquets primarily feature tofu and gluten, complemented by nutritious seasonal fruits and vegetables such as pumpkin seeds (peeled), walnuts, chicken mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and potatoes. These banquets are meticulously prepared using a variety of methods, including steaming, frying, braising, and extruding, offering a wide variety of dishes.
Heshun Tounao is a typical medicinal food with strong nourishing properties. In Heshun, a hometown of overseas Chinese in Tengchong, the local custom of eating "Tounao" (rice cake) is on the second day of the first lunar month. When a son-in-law visits his mother-in-law's home to pay New Year's greetings, his mother-in-law prepares a special bowl of Tounao for him, symbolizing a year of intelligence, respectability, and wisdom, and a happy and prosperous life for the couple. This dish is now also available in some local restaurants in Heshun Town.
This time-honored restaurant, nestled deep in a secluded alley, is located in the grand residence of a former caravan leader. The ambiance is quaint, and the cuisine is traditional and delicious. Here, you can enjoy authentic Xidoufen (thin bean powder), Dajiujia (big relief) and Heshun Tou Nao (head of a well-preserved soup), all Baoshan delicacies you shouldn't miss. However, it's best to book a table in advance and arrive promptly, otherwise you'll have to wait for a table and the signature dishes are likely to be sold out.
Address: Yanjiatang, Shangjiazhai, Tengyue Town, Tengchong County, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province
Contact: 0875-5159666
Average spending per person: 55 yuan
Niuhonghong Yunnan specialty restaurant is very beautiful with antique decoration. Coupled with authentic Yunnan cuisine, it naturally attracts many diners who come here for its reputation. Business is booming, so it is best to make a reservation in advance.
Address: Jinjiayuan Community, Tiancheng Community, Tengyue Town, Tengchong County, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province
Contact: 0875-5131869
Average spending per person: 58 yuan
This famous family restaurant specializes in clay pot, a blend of meatballs, pork skin, taro, and carrots that creates a unique and delicious flavor, especially when paired with red vinegar. Their other dishes, such as Da Jiu Jia (a type of pork stew) and Da Pian (a type of pork slice), are both authentic and reasonably priced. They also offer their homemade green plum wine, which is worth a try. Reservations for their signature clay pot are required two hours in advance.
Address: Heshun Ancient Town, Tengchong County, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province
Contact: 13908756293
Average spending per person: 58 yuan
The restaurant has a Jiangnan architectural style with small bridges and flowing water. There are also houses and courtyards in ancient architectural style in the restaurant. It is definitely worth a visit after dining. In addition, the restaurant also holds a Lisu bonfire party every weekend. While tasting Baoshan cuisine, you can also appreciate the wonderful ethnic performances of the Lisu people, such as walking on the knife pole and diving into the sea of fire.
Address: Xinwen Road, Tengchong County, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province
Contact: 0875-5190396
Average spending per person: 77 yuan
Baoshan is a famous Thai-Burmese snack shop. The golden pot stickers are considered to be one of the most authentic in China. The pot stickers are crispy on the outside and fragrant on the inside. If you add a cup of avocado drink, the rice noodles, golden oil noodles, and lemon shrimp are also delicious. You can also feel like you are having a feast here.
Address: Longquan Road, Longyang District, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province (near Gymnasium Park)
Contact: 0875-2148678
Average spending per person: 30 yuan
A famous snack bar in the Dieshu River Scenic Area. Their signature rice noodles and thin bean powder are both delicious. If you also order a portion of rolled cold rice noodles to take away, while walking and watching the magnificent view of the Dieshu River Waterfall, there is only one word to describe it: awesome!
Address: Dieshuhe Scenic Area, Tengchong County, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province (near Dieshuhe Waterfall)
Average spending per person: 6 yuan
Heshun's famous snack, Songhua Cake, can be found everywhere in the ancient town, but the most famous is Auntie Lin's Songhua Cake, which has been widely reported in the media. Auntie Lin, in her 50s, carries a small basket and sells this traditional snack by the ancient town's lake. The cake, with a golden layer of pine pollen on top and red bean paste underneath, is refreshingly sweet and melts in your mouth. A bite of it leaves the delicate fragrance of pine flowers lingering on your lips and teeth, leaving a lasting aftertaste.
Address: Heshun Town, Tengchong County, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province (near the laundry pavilion on the big platform)
Average spending per person: 2 yuan