Geography of Shanxi Province
Located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, Shanxi Province got its name because it is situated to the west of Shaan Yuan highland (a plateau in the present day shan county, Henan Province). It covers an area of over 200,000 square kilometers and has a population of 35.05 million of the Han, Hui, Man and Mongolian nationalities. Xi'an is the seat of province government.
Climate of Shaanxi Province
Climate varies distinctly between the northern and southern parts of the province, as the Qinling Mountain ward off the cold coming from the north and stop the wet monsoon coming from the south. The mean annual temperature is 7 degrees C to 12 degrees C (44.6 degrees F to 53.6 degrees F) in the northern part, 12 degrees C to 14 degrees C (53.6 degrees F to 57.2 degrees F) in the central area and 14 degrees C -16 degrees C (57.2 degrees F to 60.8 degrees F) in the southern part, with the average temperature of January being -11 degrees C and -3.5 degrees C (12.2 degrees F to 25.7 degrees F) and that of July 21 degrees C -28 degrees C (69.8 degrees F to 82.4 degrees F) . The annual rainfall is 400mm to 1,000mm.
Brief History of Shaanxi Province
Shaanxi is one of the cradles of the Chinese civilization. It is in this province that fossil remains of Lantian Man (primitive man of about 5, 00,000 to 600,000 years ago) were discovered a dozen or so kilometres east of Xi'an are Banpo remains of the matriarchal society. There is a great wealth of history relics of the Zhou, Qin and the following dynasties. During the second civil revolutionary war, a revolutionary base area was set up in Northern Shaaxi with Yan'an as the centre. From 1937 to 1947, Yna'an was the seat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
Shaanxi Local Products
The famous local products including orange, palm, natural silk, ramie, tea, walnuts, tung oil, dried chilli, Yangtao, persimmons, pomegranates, in addition to Xifeng liquor and jade carving, etc. The production of Dukang liquor and Yanzhou celadon has been resumed. Besides, imitations of coloured glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty, clay figurines, wooden walking sticks and chopsticks made in Shangluo are also very famous. Miniature carving is all the more attractive. It is exquisitely done on a piece of ivory as tiny as a grain of rice or sesame.
Local Food and Cuisine of Shaanxi Province
Xi'an Restaurant specializes in the local cuisine of Shaanxi. The cooks here draw on the special features of the cuisine of the imperial court as well as the traditional cooking to form a unique style of their own. In this restaurant, tourists can enjoy quick-fried, fried, stewed, stir-fired, quick-boiled, roasted, baked, braised or simmered dishes and dishes cooked in other ways. Though cooked in different ways, the food retains its original shape, colour and taste. It is rich in taste, inviting in smell and crisp to the bite. Well known dishes prepared by the restaurant include, among others, "gourd" chicken, two "crunchiest" with mushroom and walnut meat, etc. Specializing in Huaiyang-style food, Wuyi (Man Day) restaurant is known for its stewed, stir-fired, braised dishes., |
