Xinchang, a small county, was selected as one of the top 100 livable counties in the country in the early years.

According to the older generation, I have never encountered any natural disasters in my entire life here.

It is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and because it is a little far from the sea, the climate is relatively good, typhoons will not pass through, and major natural disasters will not occur.

The second Anlan Hotel in the country has also opened in Xinchang. Why should it be opened in Xinchang?

Of course it’s because this small county has convenient transportation, is quiet and beautiful.

Whether you come from Hangzhou, Shanghai, Jiaxing, or from cities such as Huzhou, Jiangxi, and Wenzhou, it will not take more than 3 hours by car.

Coupled with the Tang Poetry Road in eastern Zhejiang, the scenery has not changed much from ancient times to the present, making this small county a good place to visit, live, and eat.

To understand a county, start with what to eat.

The three meals a day in Xinchang are quite unique, usually a simple breakfast, casual lunch, and a big meal in the evening.

Like many small towns in the south of the Yangtze River, breakfast in Xinchang also includes xiaolongbao, soy milk, fried dough sticks, wontons, etc.

One thing is different. Soy milk is popular here and has also given rise to many other staple foods, such as spring cakes, grilled dumplings, wok-la-tou and taro dumplings.

In Xinchang, wontons are not called wontons, but soup dumplings. The most delicious steamed soup dumplings and steamed taro dumplings in Xinchang are right next door.

The steamed soup dumplings are all freshly made and steamed. As soon as they come out of the basket, they are brushed with lard and secret sauce, and then sprinkled with a handful of shredded eggs and chopped green onions. The aroma bursts out immediately, and the color is golden and super attractive.

If soup dumplings are about thin skin and less stuffing, then taro dumplings are about thick skin and lots of stuffing.

Although it is quite small, it is full of ingredients.

As the name suggests, taro dumpling wrappers are made from taro flour. They are soft and elastic and can be boiled or steamed. They will eventually become crystal clear and the fillings inside can be seen with the naked eye.

Spring pancakes are another specialty snack in Xinchang. They are about the same size as hand pancakes. Their biggest feature is that the pancakes are as thin as rice paper. Locals usually eat them for breakfast or afternoon snack.

You need to spread out four or five sheets of bread on the bread oven, stack them and then apply moldy tofu sauce, sweet noodle sauce, etc. You can also ask the boss to apply egg liquid, sprinkle with chopped green onions, drizzle with lard, and finally add various toppings

, such as special fried dumplings, fried tofu, tea eggs, tenderloin, etc.

In Xinchang, there is a wok latou restaurant on almost every street. The food is not bad, so you can choose with confidence.

The wok latou dough is also very thin, but its diameter is larger, about the same size as multigrain pancakes.

Why is it called wok latou?

It's because the pancakes are spread out in a concave pot (similar to the old-fashioned wok) (the authentic method), so the pancakes are thin and chewy.

For lunch, Xinchang people tend to choose fried rice cakes, pressed noodles, wheat shrimp soup, etc. There is no need to cook, one bowl per person is enough, it is very fragrant, and there are many ways to make it.

There used to be a lot of fried rice cake shops near the Rabbit Market, but now there are a lot fewer of them.

Hot Circuit Fried Rice Cake is one of the only remaining restaurants run by locals and has a relatively long history.

Xinchang’s fried rice cakes have soup, while baked rice cakes have no soup at all. Pay attention to the distinction.

As mentioned before, Xinchang is not far from major cities, so it combines the characteristics of different cuisines. Both spicy and non-spicy dishes are done well.

The emphasis on dinner also makes it a very good experience to go to major restaurants for dinner.

Come and have a bowl of Xinchang's special handmade taro dumpling soup. Making soup with shepherd's purse is a taste that many Xinchang people had when they were young. Such an inconspicuous wild vegetable is extremely delicious. When paired with the soft and glutinous taro dumplings, it will be delicious on your tongue.

After talking about what to eat for three meals a day in Xinchang, let me share with you where to go.

The most famous scenic spots in Xinchang are Chuanyan Nineteen Peaks and the Big Buddha Temple. I won’t introduce them in detail because everyone knows that they will be overcrowded during holidays and tickets are expensive.

I would like to recommend some summer resorts that are suitable for visiting in summer. They are less crowded, quiet and cool.

Tianzhu Lake Wonderland is a place that even local young people rarely know, but the older generation knows it better.

The scenic spot does not do much publicity and can be regarded as a forgotten wonderland.

There is a legend about Tianzhu Lake. It is said that a little monk came down from the sky and had a burning candle in his hand. He thought the scenery here was too beautiful but the light was too dark, so he placed the candle here.

But then he thought that if he didn't take the candle back, the Jade Emperor would punish him, so he turned around and tried to pull the candle away, but he didn't expect that it would break into two pieces.

The Jade Emperor punished the young monk's wrist and threw it here, which became the "Five Finger Mountain" behind Tianzhu Lake.

?Although the legend is mysterious, it is quite interesting to hear it.

The topography of Tianzhu Lake has been formed for more than 7,000 years. If it has not rained, the lake water will be very clear.

There are mountains, water and forests in the scenic area, which is a huge natural oxygen bar.

This is also a small depiction of Jiangnan gardens. When it rains, the bluestone roads patter, and when it doesn't rain, the small bridges and flowing water are beautiful.