Chengde's tourist specialties feature a fusion of Manchu culinary traditions and imperial cuisine, including donkey rolls, almond milk, Kuancheng chestnuts, buckwheat flour dumplings, and Nansha pancakes, each boasting both flavor and cultural value.
Specialty Foods
Donkey rolls: A traditional Chengde snack, made with yellow rice wrapped in red bean paste and then rolled in soybean flour. Soft, glutinous, and sweet, it originated from the imperial cuisine of the Qing Dynasty.
Almond milk: Made from local wild almonds, it has a refreshing sweet taste and moisturizing and beauty benefits. Recommended for hot or chilled drinking with almond tofu.
Buckwheat flour dumplings: Steamed buckwheat noodles, cut into strips, served with minced garlic and sesame paste. This sour and spicy snack is a signature Chengde summer jelly snack.
Nansha pancakes: Thin, crispy crust, filled with white sugar, green and red silk, and listed as tribute during the Kangxi era, making them a popular snack. Braised Pork in a Pot: A traditional Manchu dish, pork belly is braised in a ceramic pot over a slow fire, resulting in a rich, yet tender texture.
Agricultural and Sideline Products
Kuancheng Chestnuts: A specialty of Yanshan, their flesh is golden and dense, and easy to peel after being stir-fried using traditional methods. Known as the "Pearl of the Orient."
Xinglong Hawthorn: The fruit is bright red, sweet and sour, and can be preserved or used as medicine. It was a tribute item in the Ming Dynasty.
Chengde Guoguang Apples: A Geographical Indication product, they are vibrant in color and have a crisp, sweet taste, best enjoyed in autumn.
Weichang Carrots: Grown on the plateau, they are highly sweet and perfect for stewing soups or serving as salads. They have been certified as a Geographical Indication agricultural product.
Handicrafts
Teng's Cloth Paste Paintings: A blend of painting and paper cutting, featuring scenes from the Summer Palace, are highly collectible. Fengning Paper-Cutting: A non-material cultural heritage item featuring diverse patterns, often used for festival decorations, reflecting the unique characteristics of Manchu culture.
Mountain Villa Silk Brocade: A satin-woven craft featuring panoramic views of the Mountain Resort, suitable as a souvenir.