Baoding donkey meat fire originated in Caohe Town, Xu Shui, Baoding, and originated in Caohe Wharf. Legend has it that in the Song Dynasty, there were two powerful gangs on Caohe Wharf. Two gangs, one named Cao Gang and the other named Yan Gang, have always had frictions over the business of the wharf. Cao Gang's main business is transporting grain, and Salt Gang's main business is transporting salt. Both gangs want to encroach on each other's business.
After several battles, Cao Gang finally drove away the salt gang and took control of Caohe Wharf alone. Although the salt gang left, many of their donkeys stayed, so many donkeys could not be used at all. Moreover, the price of donkeys is much cheaper than that of cattle and horses, so Cao Gang decided to slaughter all the extra donkeys. As hardworking people, it is impossible to eat only donkey meat, so I bought a lot of local fires. The rotten donkey meat was put into the golden crisp fire, and the taste captured everyone's tongue at once. Since then, Baoding donkey fire has spread. Later, in order to meet the large demand for donkey meat in the market, donkeys specially used for eating began to appear, and the fire of donkey meat in Baoding spread more widely.
The fire of donkey meat in Hejian is said to have originated in the Tang Dynasty. According to legend, Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, had been to Hejian before he ascended the throne, and a local scholar cooked donkey meat to entertain him. Li Longji repeatedly praised after eating, and the fire of Hejian donkey meat spread like wildfire.
If you ask Hejian donkey meat fire or Baoding donkey meat fire which is better, I can only say that each has its own characteristics. These two kinds of donkey meat are most suitable for local people's tastes. For us outsiders, either one is delicious. These two kinds of fires are also easy to distinguish. Baoding donkey meat is round and Hejian donkey meat is rectangular.