Written by Clementine |
Though the Muslim Quarter is still the most popular food street in Xian, an increasing number of local Xian people and tourists go to Yongxingfang Food Street for a typical Xian food tour. If you want to see the bustling scenery, Muslim Quarter will be the first choice. If you want to try some Shaanxi Food, we will recommend Yongxingfang Food Street nearby the East Gate of the Xian City Wall to you.
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- Overview of Yongxingfang Food Street
- Popular Food & Snacks in Yongxingfang Food Street
- What Cultural Experiences to Expect in Yongxingfang?
- How to Get to Yongxingfang Food Street
- Best Time to Go
- Nearby Attractions
- Travel Yongxingfang with China Xian Tour
Overview of Yongxingfang Food Street
Located inside the Zhongshan Gate (nearby the East Gate) of ancient Xian City Wall, Yongxingfang Food Street was opened in December 2014, which is committed to supplying intangible cultural heritage food of Shaanxi Province. Besides the local Xian famous food, the night view of the street is a highlight as well.
Compared with the Muslim Quarter, which is most famous for Muslim Food, Yongxingfang Food Street is of richer kinds of local food and snacks and better sanitary condition. So an increasing number of tourists choose to visit Yongxingfang instead of Muslim Quarter during their Xian travel. So it can be regarded as the second Muslim Quarter in Xian.
Yongxingfang Food Street covers an area of 1 hectare with 130 meters long from west to east and 88 meters wide from south to north. It is the former site of the residence of Wei Zheng, a Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty. It consists of ancient styled buildings, decorated archway, public square, inner Pedestrian Street, etc.
The most distinctive architectural feature of Yongxingfang Food Street is the decorated archway and the local folk architecture complex built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It reproduces the neighborhood form and historical life atmosphere, as well as the traditional folk life space of the ancient Chang’an City.
The layout of Yongxingfang Food Street is designed based on study of market trading facts in the Ming and Qing dynasties. So taking a walk in this street, one will learn about the ancient market pattern and try rich kinds of local food at the same time.
Other Food Streets in Xian
Yongxingfang is divided into eight blocks: Guanzhong Lane, Southern Shaanxi Street, Northern Shaanxi Li, Handicraft Workshop, Intangible Cultural Heritage Folk-Custom Street, 107 Street, Cultural and Creative Street, and Fu Street. It gathers the cultural “essence” of 11 prefecture-level cities and 107 districts and counties in Shaanxi.
Popular Food & Snacks in Yongxingfang Food Street
Tourists could find authentic food and snacks from each part of Shaanxi Province, feel traditional Chinese culture and shopping in the street when walking along Yongxingfang Food Street.
Foods and snacks worthy of recommending include:
- Sanyuan Jinxian Youta (a kind of steamed sliced pastry)
- Caituan (vegetable roller)
- Qishan Ganmianpi (a kind of cold noodles)
- Qishan Saozimian (sliced noodles in clear or pork soup)
- Roujiamo (Chinese Hamburger)
- Dali Daibazhouzi (steamed pig elbow)
- Lantian Qiaomian Heluo (noodles made of buckwheat powder)
- Qinzhen Mipi (steamed cold noodles made of rice powder)
- Xianyang Biangbiangmian (a kind of wide hand-pulled noodles)
- Sanyuan Liaohuatang (a kind of sweet course)
- Wugong Mahua (a kind of fried twisted wheat powder stick)
- Jingyang Pebble Baked Cake (a kind of cake baked among layers of cooking pebble)
You can also experience the most famous Shuaiwanjiu (to smash the bowl after drinking the wine) that has a special sense of ceremony.
What Cultural Experiences to Expect in Yongxingfang?
Make and Taste Intangible Cultural Heritage Delicacies
Though the area of Yongxingfang is not big, it gathers over 100 intangible cultural heritage delicacies all over Shaanxi Province. Here, tourists can taste the authentic flavors from Northern, Central and Southern Shaanxi, such as Zichang Pancake, Qishan Noodles with Minced Pork, Fu Tea, etc. What’s more, you can also step into the Xingping Chili Workshop to see how the chili powder is made with the traditional stone mill, or learn about the traditional techniques of bean product making in the tofu workshop. If you meet the tourists queuing up to drink a bowl of wine and throw the bowl after finishing, do not be puzzled. It is a unique cultural experience transformed from the traditional farewell ceremony of soldiers in ancient China. Just try it.
Experience Traditional Handicrafts
To enable tourists to touch the profound intangible cultural heritages by themselves, a total of 32 workshops have been set in Yongxingfang. Dozens of intangible cultural heritage skills are covered, such as paper cutting, clay figurine and traditional dying. In the workshops, you can observe the exquisite craftsmanship of the inheritors and also experience it under the guidance of the artisans. How about making a local souvenir on your own to add more memories to your Xian tours? For example, create auspicious paper-cut patterns with a pair of scissors. Another interesting experience is that you can design your own exclusive embroidery patterns through AR technology, which will then be made by the artisans on the spot.
Watch Folk Performances
In Yongxingfang, watching the abundant folk performances is a core experience. There are several cultural exhibition areas, such as Shaanxi Opera Museum, Huaxian Shadow Play Theater, Intangible Cultural Heritage Theater, 108 Theatre Building. A series of performances is given in these areas every day, including Qinqiang Opera, Huaxian Shadow Puppet Play, Huayin Laoqiang, Northern Shaanxi storytelling, Heyang marionette, etc. What a feast for eyes and ears! In total, it has covered over 40 characteristic operas in the three regions of Shaanxi Province. These immersive performances will make you feel like travelling through space.
Tips: Due to its proximity to the East Gate, you can also visit Xian City Wall after a hearty meal in Yongxingfang Food Street, take a stroll to enjoy the scenery and help to digest. You can also rent a bicycle to ride around the city wall and appreciate the ancient city of Xian from different angles.
How to Get to Yongxingfang Food Street
- Subway Lines
- Take SubwayLine 1 to Chaoyang Gate Station (B Southwest Exit), then walk southwest for about 900 meters to reach Yongxingfang.
- Take SubwayLine 6 to Changle GateStation (A1 Northeast Exit), then walk northeast for about 900 meters to reach Yongxingfang.
- Bus Routes
Zhongshan Gate Station (southwest corner of Yongxingfang) by bus routes No. 32, 702.
Dongxin Street Station (west of Yongxingfang) by bus routes No. 102, 182, 602, 702.
Best Time to Go
Autumn is the golden tourism season with pleasant weather and abundant cultural activities. As for the best time of the day, in the afternoon, it is suitable to taste the delicious foods and snacks at a leisurely pace and observe the making process of the handicrafts in workshops. When night falls, the whole block is illuminated by lights, reproducing a bustling and prosperous scene of the Tang Dynasty. You can take some memorable photos during this time. Besides, it is also the peak period for folk performances.
During National Holiday and Spring Festival, colorful cultural activities and traditional New Year customs activities will be held. There may be extra surprises if visiting during these times.
Nearby Attractions
- Xian City Wall: only 5 minutes walking to the Zhongshan Gate. It is China’s largest and best-preserved ancient city wall, which surrounds the ancient urban area of Xian.
- Muslim Quarter: it is the most famous food street located in the city center, where sells varieties of local food and halal snacks.
- Bell Tower: it is the absolute city landmark and is featured by its splendid night landscape.
Travel Yongxingfang with China Xian Tour
As a local expert, we are based in Xian and have over 20 years of experience on planing Xian tours. No one knows Xian better than us. Beyond sampling authentic Xian food, China Xian Tour can also offer you in-depth local experiences based on your preferences and schedule. Whether you are traveling alone or with your family, we will ensure you a memorable Xian journey.
