As the provincial capital of Shanxi province, there are a good number of specialties both traditional and modern. Shopping centers and shopping streets are easies to find than any other cities in Shanxi.
Local Specialities
Dough Carvings
It is a custom to mould dough carving in some festivals in Shanxi. The sticky rice powder is moulded into all kinds of fingers, animals, fruits or flowers and painted all kinds of colors. After steamed, the handicraft becomes firm. These dough sculptures are made delicately and vividly. People usually buy them as gifts to send to friends.
Paper Cut
Paper cut is another kind of traditional custom for Shanxi residents. Villagers make paper cut for window decoration in the Spring Festival or Wedding day. Red papers are cut into vivid animals, fingers, or flowers.
Vinegar
Vinegar plays an important role in Chinese cuisine. Shanxi vinegar tops in all the vinegars in China. Vinegar produced in Qingxu County, Shanxi is one of the four most famed kinds of vinegars. The flavor of the vinegar is extremely sour but pleasant, lasting for a while at your tongue even after you swallow it. Furthermore, while most of the vinegars will go bad after long storage, Qingxu vinegar only gets tastier. Some even store the vinegar for several decades and the water dries, leaving only solid vinegar like a piece of amber. The solid vinegar tastes still the same after it mixing with water.
The brewing technology of Qingxu Vinegar is now named intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.
New Year"s Wood-block Prints of Taohuawu
It is a kind of picture posting on the walls and windows when the New Year is approaching, transfering people’s expectiations for the comng year. Suzhou Taohuawu Wood-block picture, Tianjin Yangliuqing Wood-block pictures as well as Shandong Yangjiabu Wood-block pictures are reputed as “Great Three Chinese Wood-block New Year Picutres”. Featuring dramatic stories, classic novels and local life and customs, Taohuawu wood-block New Year picture art is a window to the past and evokes the vitality of nationalism, celebration and cultural continuance.
Pingyao Polished Lacquerware
With special luster polished by hand, Pingyao polished lacquerware is one of the four most famed lacquerwares in China. It was first made in Kaiyuan, Tang Dynasty(431 to 741) and becomes prosperous in Ming and Qing Dynasty. Caskets, screens, TV cabinet, etc are all popular lauqerwares. .jpg)
Shopping Street
Taiyuan shopping center are mainly gathered at Yingze East Aveneue, Wuyi Road, South Jiefang Road, Jianshe South Road, and Kaihua Temple Street. Several shopping malls such Tianlong Mansion, Huayu Shopping Center, Yuhuanyuan Center and Guidu Department Store could be easily found. Liuxiang Street, Drum and Tower street and Liunan Night Marked Street are famous for the traditional handcrafts.
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