Wuyishan Food

Wuyi Mountain is famed for its 'caught on the mountain food' ranging from flying, swimming, slithering and hopping animal delicacies, to fungus and bamboo dishes. The most famous of these dishes is probably the Shilin frogs (Shilin qingwa rou), the various snake (she rou) dishes, often cooked with fungus or bamboo, or the Jiuquzhufa made by the chefs of the Wuyi Hotel. The mountain is also famed for its variety of locally produced wines ranging from the chrysanthemum brewed to the snake flavoured types.

Most of the restaurants here are located within the hotels and the prices are, as usual on China's mountains, fairly high. The best way to get away from these is to head to any of the local villages, where the small roadside restaurant/stalls will allow you to eat with the locals. But thay are not 100% safe. Hence we strongly recommend that travellers try good restaurants instead.

Jiuquzhufa (竹米饭)

Jiuquzhufa, created by the chefs of the Wuyi Hotel, is known in these parts as the essence of Wuyi Mountain cuisine. It is made by mincing fragrant mushrooms, lean meat and fresh water fish together. The minced stuffing is then rolled into a tender bamboo shoot sheet and cooked either by steaming, frying or braising.

Grilled Bean (烤豆子)

If you have a chance to live in the house of country folks in Wuyi Mountain area in autumn, you will most probably be served their favourite specialty-grilled bean. You will surely enjoy yourself when you eat it while listening to the folk ballad.

Snake Banquet (小吃宴)

Wuyi Mountain has long been known as the kingdom of the snake, and the variety of snake dishes here is almost limitless. The best way to really appreciate this delicacy is to take a group to sample the snake banquet: a selection of dishes all containing our slithery friend. The mountain cooks will do their best to refute the assertion that it 'tastes a bit like chicken'.
Snake banquets can be found in the menus of most top end to mid range hotels, just ask for sheyan or sherou yan.