Dongxiang finger food is a representative famous food in Linxia, which has a history of hundreds of years. In the past, because many stalls were sold along the street, the eater grabbed it with his hand, which is the origin of the word "hand-grabbed". Now I don't have to grab it with my hands, but I still use the word "grab it with my hands". There is a spread: "Speaking of grabbing, I think of Linxia" and "When guests come, it's useless to come to Linxia without grabbing it with my hands". So Dongxiang finger food has almost become the representative work of Hezhou food culture. According to textual research, Linxia was called "Kehan" in ancient times, and Hezhou sheep was also called "Kehan sheep". It was once a tribute of the imperial court and "Kehan red-pited mutton", which has always been famous. Dongxiang Autonomous County, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, is characterized by deep mountain gully, drought and little rain, low water content, fat and rich nutrition. Therefore, Dongxiang Hand-grabbed mutton fat is tender, with little and delicate meat fiber, rich in protein and various trace elements, which can strengthen human body's resistance and immune function after long-term eating, and has the functions of warming kidney and strengthening soup, strengthening body and refreshing, invigorating spleen and stomach, beauty beauty and prolonging life. It is said that the girl in Hezhou has delicate skin, beautiful and rich, and her face is watery, "red in the red and white in the white", which is related to eating mutton since childhood.

The Party's policy of reform, opening up and economic development has injected vigor and vitality into Dongxiang's hand-grabbed mutton. From the traditional "equal partner" to a socialized industrial chain of feeding, trafficking, making, selling and even exporting, there are many hand-grabbed restaurants in Dongxiang from all parts of the state to neighboring areas in northwest China such as Lanzhou. It is said that the daily sales volume of "Zhonghua Hand-grabbed King" opened by Dongxiang boss in Xiaoxihu, Lanzhou has reached hundreds of sheep. The unique halal food, mainly beef and mutton, has cut a large piece of cake in Lanzhou and even the northwest catering industry.