Jining is actually a very distinctive city in Shandong, where there are not only profound cultural connotations, but also many interesting folk customs!
Although Jining has a long history, it was only a little-known village in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Jining was originally a humble Jeju, ruled by Juye. In 1151, Juye flood moved Jeju to its present place. After the Yuan Dynasty destroyed the gold, Juye was flooded frequently, and in the eighth year of the reign of Saizu (1271), Jeju was promoted to the position of government. Because it helped the water in the south, the water in the north, and the state lived in it, it won the peace of saving the water, hence the name "Jining House". At this time, Jining, although ruled by the government, has an average reputation and is just a general town. From the Yuan Dynasty to the first year, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal running through Jining brought vitality to the rise of Jining, and Pingping Jining gradually embarked on the road of prosperity. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal starts from Beijing in the north and ends in Hangzhou in the south, with a total length of about 1,811 kilometers. It is the longest man-made river in the world and one of the oldest canals. Together with the Great Wall of Wan Li, it is known as two great projects in ancient China, which is world-famous and a symbol of Chinese civilization.
The Grand Canal has created superior natural and social conditions for the formation and rise of towns along the transportation area, and promoted the development and gathering of social productive forces. On this basis, Jining City has risen rapidly. Jining, located in the middle section of the Grand Canal, is an important transportation hub and flood and drought wharf of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal. Through the canal, it can reach Jianghuai in the south and Gyeonggi in the north, which is an important transmission point between north and south. Known as the "key rush" and "throat" area of the river basin.
Dock towns along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, which flourished in Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, such as Dezhou, Linqing, Liaocheng (Dongchang) and Jining in Shandong, were influenced by the north-south water transportation, and their customs were different from those in other parts of Shandong. Most of these towns have a bamboo alley, where common bamboo weaving shops in the south of the Yangtze River are concentrated, and the teahouse opened on the street has the same pavement pattern, selling tea and drinking tea. The Yutang Sauce Garden in Jining moved from Suzhou along the canal, and its products have maintained the Jiangnan style so far, and still use the signboard of "Gusu Old Shop".
Since then, the "Little Suzhou in the North of the Yangtze River" has become famous all over the world, and Jining has become a veritable military, political, economic and cultural center in southwest Shandong.
The bamboo pole lane and several streets connected with it can best reflect the style of residential buildings in Jining.
It has no reserve of quadrangles in the north, nor the softness of cornices with pink walls in the south of the Yangtze River, but it is somewhat stable in the north and somewhat dexterous in the south, which is the architectural cultural feature of Jining. "Little Suzhou in the North of the Yangtze River" is an appropriate evaluation.
Jining has been known as the four temples, eight scenic spots, three pagodas, seven temples, eighteen pavilions and seventy-two yamen since ancient times. Historical relics and places of interest in the city are scattered all over the city. Since the canal was unblocked, with the prosperity of business, religious culture has also infiltrated one after another. In addition, Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited Jining many times and stayed in Jining several times, leaving Jining with them.
There is a famous folk saying in Jining: "Born in Suzhou, play in Hangzhou, wear in Guangzhou and eat in Jining". Jining is famous for its geographical environment. Jining is close to the river and is rich in aquatic products. People in Jining use these favorable conditions to create famous dishes with local characteristics. In the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, restaurants in Jining were all over the streets, ranging from high-grade shark's fin banquet to delicious steamed stuffed buns and roasted meat. Although some of them were engaged in a kind of food, they were very popular with people because of their fine workmanship and unique flavor. What is widely circulated by Jining citizens is the evaluation of these meals and snacks. In the Qing Dynasty, there were more than 611 catering businesses, including 511 pasta and various snacks, more than 111 restaurants, and more than 11 larger ones.
Because it is located in a water town, the specialties of chef Jining are mostly fresh lake and aquatic products. Because the canal is crowded with business travelers from north to south, the dishes have both north and south flavors. Jining cuisine has greatly enriched the Shandong cuisine system.
Jining is one of the cradles of Shandong cuisine, and local snacks has many kinds and distinctive features. In particular, local dishes such as Confucius Cuisine, Confucius Pastry and Weishan Lake Fish Banquet have a high reputation at home and abroad, and they are delicious dishes that must be tasted.
Jining snacks are one of the hot spots in history. There are many people in Jining who do business, socialize in the morning to open the market, and it is too late to make breakfast. People have the habit of going to the streets to buy breakfast, and this trend still exists. Businessmen and craftsmen often stay up late, so there are many midnight snacks. Coupled with the long stagnation of the canal fleet and the inconvenience of cooking, street snacks will flourish.
There is a jingle that basically summarizes the recipes of Jining catering industry.
pork liver, sheep belly,
roast chicken, roast goose and roast duck,
fried shredded chicken, fried shredded pork,
shredded duck, shredded beef and shredded walnut,
dry fried fish with white rice balls,
rice flour meat, fish with sugar sauce, and
dried shredded pork with shrimps.
Jining snacks are one of the hot spots in history. There are many people in Jining who do business, socialize in the morning to open the market, and it is too late to make breakfast. People have the habit of going to the streets to buy breakfast, and this trend still exists. Businessmen and craftsmen often stay up late, so there are many midnight snacks. Coupled with the long stagnation of the canal fleet and the inconvenience of cooking, street snacks will flourish. The foundation of Confucian cuisine is also Jining cuisine, but because it often receives royal guests, Confucian cuisine has absorbed a lot of luxury of palace cuisine. Pay attention to the "three essences" and "four beauties" of color, fragrance, taste, shape, container, meaning and ceremony. Color, fragrance and taste need not be explained. The "shape" is the beauty of modeling, and the modern term is called "sculpture sense"; "utensil", cups, plates and bowls should be exquisite; "Italy", the name of the dish should be elegant, auspicious and interesting; For those who are "courteous", the order of serving and the placement are strictly regulated. Weishan Lake Fish Banquet won the "Special Award for Chinese Food Banquet" and "Best Banquet Award".
When you come to Weishan Lake, you can't help but try the whole fish feast here. It uses fresh fish produced in Weishan Lake, pays attention to the preparation of clear soup and milk soup, and pays attention to the collocation of sour, sweet, hemp, spicy and salty taste. "Farewell My Concubine" and "Carp Jumping from the Dragon Gate" are representatives.
I heard that the most fragrant and unpretentious dish in the "fish feast" on Weishan Lake is "stewed small fish". Fishermen stab the newly caught small fish three times, five times and two times, rinse them quickly in the lake and throw them into the pot, adding only a little oil and salt and no other spices. That fresh and tender taste is enough to lick people's chin.
Weishan Lake, named after Weizi. Wei Zi is the elder brother of Yin Zhou Wang. Zhou Wang had no choice but to listen to my advice. He left in anger and was buried in Weishan Island after his death. After the lake was formed, Yishan was named Weishan Lake.
The best time to visit Weishan Lake is from July to September in the lunar calendar every year. At this time, 11,111 mu of lotus flowers are in full bloom, and visitors can enjoy the lotus on the lake by boat.