Live Your Best Lives
Besides enjoying Chaotian's breathtaking natural scenery, savoring its delicious food is also a must. Guangyuan's walnut cakes, a popular snack in the area, are a must-try. Zengjiashan's bacon and dried tofu are also local specialties worth trying.
Guangyuan cold noodles, also known as steamed cold noodles, are a Han Chinese noodle specialty from Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province. They resemble Shaanxi cold noodles in appearance, but are made with rice instead of flour. They have a smooth, refreshing, and refreshing taste.
Zeng's bacon is said to have a thousand-year history. The smoked bacon is consistent throughout, maintaining its exceptional color, aroma, flavor, and shape. Cooked and sliced, it becomes translucent and vibrant, a vibrant yellow with a hint of red. It offers a mellow flavor, neither greasy nor lean, yet smooth. Not only is it uniquely flavorful and nutritious, it also stimulates the appetite, dispels cold, and aids digestion. Known as "one family cooks meat, and a hundred families enjoy the aroma," it is a unique local delicacy. Bacon is typically made from fresh winter pork that's been marinated and sun-dried. The following year, it's then simmered over low heat with local dried vegetables (potato pods, dried cowpeas, and bamboo shoots) and served directly.
The Ten Bowl Banquet originated during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty. The "Chanyuan Plan" averted the threat of southern invasion from the Liao Kingdom. Emperor Zhenzong rewarded his soldiers, grouping them into eight men and serving ten bowls per banquet, to encourage them to defend their country. During the reign of Emperor Shenzong, the renowned writer and gourmet Su Dongpo created "Dongpo Elbow," which was added to the Ten Bowl Banquet as a delicacy for literary gatherings. During the Ming Dynasty, when Emperor Yongle was renovating the imperial city, the Ten Bowl Banquet became a royal honorific for craftsmen. From this, the Taoist concept of yin and yang supplementation was incorporated into the banquet, resulting in the five meat and five vegetable dishes, a tradition that has survived to this day. Since the Qing Dynasty, folk artists, such as those specializing in civil engineering and metalwork, have adopted the Ten Bowl Banquet as a way to thank their teachers and apprentices. It became known as the "Ten Directions Banquet," meaning "traveling the world and eating in all directions." Even today, the Ten Bowl Banquet is a common feature of rural banquets, where it is considered a symbol of the perfection of life.
Chaotian walnuts are a nationally renowned trademark and are considered one of the "Seven Wonders of Guangyuan." They are characterized by their large size, thin shell, and delicious flavor. Walnut cakes are made from high-quality walnut kernels, ground into a paste with a moderate amount of sesame seeds. Chili peppers and salt are then applied to the fermented dough, formed into cakes, and baked in an oven. The cakes are crispy, fragrant, golden, and delicious. When rolled into thin slices and baked, they are called "thin crisps."
Drunken Chicken is a famous dish in the Zengjiashan cuisine "Zengjia Local Chicken Banquet". It uses pure natural local chickens raised by farmers and local wine as the basic seasoning. It can not only remove fishy smell, relieve greasiness, add fragrance, enhance color and freshness, but also has the characteristics of being easy to digest and absorb. Its meat is tender, the wine aroma is rich, and the taste is delicious and refreshing.
Zhongzi Spicy Chicken is made from carefully selected local roosters, which are cooked with a variety of spices such as cinnamon and tsaoko. After cooling, it is seasoned with peppercorns, chili oil, ginger juice, MSG and other seasonings. The chicken is spicy and fragrant, with a bright color, and the meat is crispy, tender and chewy, especially known for its numbness. It is a famous snack in Chaotiandao.
Using a unique cooking technique of "half soup, half dish," this dish uses local free-range chickens to create a dish suitable for all seasons. Once prepared, the dish is served in a covered bowl. When the lid is removed, the room is filled with the aroma of wine and the chicken wings are plump and tender.
A delicious dish cooked with chicken, taro, garlic, ginger, onion, and fermented black bean paste.
Cold noodles + tofu porridge is a standard breakfast for Chaotian people and a must-eat every day.
Select high-quality soybeans, use sour water to make tofu, and use local techniques to smoke it into dried tofu. Add some red oil when eating, and it will taste delicious and chewy.
Bean dregs cake is a pancake-shaped food made from the residue left after grinding soy milk, mixed with eggs and flour. Bean dregs cake has beautiful color and delicious taste and is rich in protein.
Mingyuexia Hotel is located next to the Mingyuexia Scenic Area's north gate visitor center. Verdant mountains and the Jialing River flow in front of the hotel, and a spacious plaza nestled in the embrace of verdant mountains and clear waters. The hotel's overall decor exudes a historical and literary atmosphere reminiscent of the Three Kingdoms culture and the ancient Shu plank roads, allowing guests to enjoy a meal while chatting and savoring the historical influences. Recommended snacks include walnut cakes, bean curd dregs cakes, and amber peach kernels.
Address: Mingyuexia Scenic Area
Contact: 0839-8623159
Average spending per person: 60-100 yuan
Chef Yu's Restaurant is located on the second floor across from Chaotian Bus Station. Its location is excellent and convenient for dining. Chef Yu's Restaurant is the second largest Chinese restaurant in Chaotian District. Its most distinctive dish is its "Ten Rural Bowls." Other specialties include the Farmer's Grilled Fish and the "Satiating Pork Slices."
Address: 2nd floor, opposite Chaotian Bus Station
Contact: 0839-8622685
Average spending per person: 25-30 yuan
Shuweiyuan Restaurant is located at the entrance of Mingyue Gorge Ancient Plank Road Scenic Area in Jianmen Shudao. It opened in 2012 and makes you feel the taste of home. Its specialty is fish with local pickled cabbage and tofu.
Address: Outside Mingyuexia Scenic Area
Contact: 0839-8623571
Average spending per person: 15-20 yuan
The main dish is spicy chicken, which is all pure natural chicken raised by farmers. All the seasonings of spicy chicken are made from natural Chinese medicinal materials. The cooking process has been continuously researched and improved by two generations, making the spicy chicken sold far and wide both inside and outside the province, and deeply favored by consumers. It is a must-visit restaurant for tourists to Chaotian.
Address: Opposite to the bus station in Zhongzi Town, Chaotian District
Contact: 15520800333/0839-86702796