They all say that women are like flowers. In the upcoming March, the season of bright spring light and blooming flowers undoubtedly belongs to women. In this time of warm spring and blossoms, attracted by the spirit of Taining in China, we reject the group travel model of "sleeping on the bus and taking photos after getting off". On Women's Day, we have our own ideas. Flowers bloom in March, and from Taining in China, we start our journey of vibrant life.
Warm Mushroom Buns: Eat - Taining Delicacies, Delicious and Nourishing
As the saying goes, "food is the paramount necessity of the people." Nowadays, with foodies in charge, before enjoying the scenery and consuming physical strength, of course, one must first satisfy the five senses and lay a solid energy consumption foundation for the upcoming journey. Speaking of delicacies, one cannot help but mention irresistible folk characteristic snacks. Most people would probably think of "Fujian Shaxian Snacks" at this point, but today, the "Taining Snacks" we are going to taste may be low-key, but compared with them, they are no less flavorful.
Taining folk flavor snacks have a long history, a wide variety, and are deeply loved by the masses. The Jade Roll, also known as "leek cake," has thin pancakes with emerald green color, resembling jade, filled with various fillings, fried into cylindrical shapes, soft and smooth, with excellent color, aroma, and taste; Warm Mushroom Bun, also called "baozi," uses mugwort and rice slurry as raw materials, filled with various fillings, steamed and eaten. Every year on the day of "Spring She" in Taining, every household makes warm mushroom buns to honor the land god and pray for a good harvest; ZHUANGYUAN Cake, made from pure and transparent glutinous rice, is moderately soft and sweet; Xiancao Cake collects wild grasses and grinds them with rice slurry, then cools and solidifies them, cutting them into blocks to eat, soft and fragrant; Oil Slurry Tofu, a soy product, is tender and fragrant, finer than tofu made from gypsum, without any roughness.
Taining's snacks not only focus on taste but also function, often containing Chinese herbal medicine or nourishing delicacies, living up to the name of "mountain delicacy." Taining's cuisine is not only tempting in snacks but also classic in local dishes. Due to climatic reasons, Taining's local dishes are heavier and spicier, rich and flavorful. Local specialties include "Jinhu Fish Head," "Carp Vermicelli," "Sour Cabbage Bamboo Shoots," "Country-style Tofu," "Pickled Meat Mushrooms," "Braised Dog Meat," "Steamed Mandarin Fish," "Stewed Catfish," and more dishes that make one excited and eager to eat!
Pounding Tea Preparation: Drink - Taining Three Teas, Healthy and Beautiful
The Hakka Pounding Tea is a special healthy drink made by pounding tea, peanuts, sesame seeds, health-preserving herbs, etc., in a mortar and then pouring boiling water over it to form a thick soup. It can be consumed as a beverage or to quench hunger, with a rich aroma that makes one drool. It is worth noting that Taining's Hakka Pounding Tea has a history of over 1000 years, with a profound cultural heritage. It is the most direct expression of Hakka culture and a model of preserving traditional Hakka culture, hailed as a living fossil of ancient Chinese tea culture.
Wild Vine Tea, naturally wild and completely pollution-free ecological tea leaves, fresh-picked vine leaves are hand-rolled, low-temperature baked, screened, and shaped into frost-colored tea leaves. Initially bitter upon drinking, it becomes sweet afterward, refreshing the throat, with effects of heat-clearing and detoxifying, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, wind-dispelling and dampness-removing, strengthening tendons and bones, lowering blood pressure, and protecting the liver.
Lake Rock Tea, nurtured by the beautiful scenery of Jinhu Lake, the special small climate of Jinhu gives the tea here a typical rock tea flavor, absorbing many essential trace elements and beneficial substances for the human body, with effects of quenching thirst, invigorating the spirit, relieving hangovers, aiding digestion, diuresis, detoxification, and clearing the mind.
Shangqingxi Drift (Photography/xce xce): Play - Water Taining, Fun and Not Tiring
Da Jinhu is acclaimed as the best of lake and mountain landscapes, renowned as the "World's First Lake Mountain." Boarding a boat, leisurely navigating on the Jinhu waters, watching the vast and deep lakes perfectly combined with the myriad forms of Danxia wonders. Nature's creation, all things come alive, viewing the vivid and lively natural Buddhas, accompanied by numerous golden turtles, holy elephants, unicorns, and other Buddhist spiritual creatures, with "Xian" and "Shou" inscriptions left on the red cliffs, complementing the remarkably efficacious "Ganlu Temple," leaving one in awe.
Shangqingxi, hidden deep within the mountains and valleys, integrates the water of Guilin's Lijiang River, the mountains of Wuyi, the scenery of Zhangjiajie, the colors of Jiuzhaigou, and the perilousness of the Three Gorges into one gorge. Riding on a bamboo raft downstream, the stream winds through layered peaks and cliffs, with many bends, rapid currents, and narrow gorges, twisting and turning, with the sky overshadowed by the mountains, the water seeking release from the rocks, creating a maze-like landscape. Scenic views such as the carp leaping through the dragon gate, the tolling of the golden bell, the threefold farewell at Yang Pass, Elephant Nose Rock, Camel Peak, Mirage, and more, each one a marvel of craftsmanship. A single rock can transform into different scenes and moods from different angles and distances, truly amazing and wondrous!
Jiulongtan, named for the nine winding streams resembling dragons, with streams flowing from all directions into the pool, hence its name. Sitting on a single-row three-seat bamboo raft, with a gentle push of the bamboo pole, a small boat breaks the calm surface of the water, slowly departing the shore, entering a serene realm. The beauty of Jiulongtan lies in its refinement and remoteness, with abrupt peaks and crisscrossing canyons, mistakenly entering a mysterious valley, feeling as if detached from worldly affairs, with a faint fragrance of orchids adding grace and charm to this Danxia wonderland.
Taining Bronze Sculpture: Enjoy - Ancient Taining, Watching Plays and Dancing
Taining Ancient City, a city hidden amidst the bustling world, a poetic town immersed in an ancient and tranquil atmosphere. Hundreds of years ago, the Minyue people, nomads from Central Plains, and Hakka ancestors trekked through mountains and rivers, coming here to clear the land, settle down, and intermingle. Strolling through the ancient streets, a group of bronze sculptures along the river catches the eye. The bronze sculpture ensemble consists of 81 figures, 11 oxen, 8 horses, and more. Taining uses this personalized form to interpret and promote its profound cultural accumulation, vividly recreating Taining's rich history spanning over 2200 years.
Meilin Opera, commonly known as Earth Opera or Earth Peking Opera, evolved from the Huizhou tune of the Qing Dynasty Qianjia period, blended with Taining dialect, folk songs, and Taoist music. Its singing style is beautiful, roles complete, performances rugged, and the singing, recitation, acting, and martial arts all possess distinct personalities. In 2005, it was listed in the national intangible cultural heritage catalog. Holding a cup of Lake Rock Tea, listening to a Meilin opera, experiencing a leisurely life named Taining.
In the evening, you can watch a performance of "Dream Back to Taining." From the ancient times of slash-and-burn agriculture thousands of years ago to modern Taining stepping out of the country and onto the world stage, gathering friends from all directions, the entire play is divided into five parts: "Prologue," "Jinhu Fishing Fire," "Poetry and Scholar Zhuangyuan," "Hometown Charm," and "Gathering in Taining." With ancient and elegant costumes, passionate and unrestrained dances, interspersed with unique Taining folklore, the play longitudinally showcases various aspects of Taining, allowing one to appreciate Taining's unique regional culture in a relaxed and vivid way.
Bo Lu (bolvv.net) Tips: Self-driving Route
Section 1: Sanming Chengguan Lie Dong - Sha County Chengguan - Gaoqiao - Xia Mao - Wan An Town - Taining (about 180 kilometers)
Route Description: Depart from Chengguan and take National Highway 205, with excellent road conditions, reaching Sha County in about 50 kilometers. Turn onto the provincial road, passing through Gaoqiao and Xia Mao, then enter the mountain road. This route features long and steep slopes, narrow roads with sharp turns, requiring cautious driving. After approximately 50 kilometers, reach Jiang Le, pass through Wan An Town, still on the provincial asphalt road, directly reaching the center of Taining County.
Section 2: Taining - Jiang Le - Nan Kou - Bai Lian - Shi Xing - Zi Kou Fang - Xia Yang - Ji Kou - Yan Qian - Xin Kou - Sanming Chengguan (about 190 kilometers)
Route Description: After leaving Jiang Le City, turn towards Ming Xi, after a short section of mountain road, a vast open view appears. Almost no curves, one side is green mountains, the other side is quietly flowing river water. Open the car window to smell the scent of fresh grass mixed with soil. After leaving Bai Lian, take Provincial Road 205, passing through Zi Kou Fang, Xia Yang, Ji Kou, Yan Qian, the road is very good. Then, take National Highway 205 from Xin Kou, directly reaching Chengguan.
Section 3: Taining
Route Description: Taining County Town is 8 kilometers away from Jinhu (second-class road surface), 23 kilometers away from the upper dock of Shangqingxi (asphalt road), 12 kilometers away from the lower dock of Shangqingxi (asphalt road); 12 kilometers away from the Zhuangyuan Rock Scenic Area (asphalt road), 28 kilometers away from the Mysterious Cat Mountain National Forest Park (asphalt road), 15 kilometers away from the Jiulongtan Scenic Area (asphalt road), and the Taining Ancient City Tourist Area is located right in the center of the county town.
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