Local Fujian. Peace Ancient Town

Author: Lai Xiaobing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-09-01
Features: Peace Ancient Town has a history dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Located at the strategic hub of Shao Nan, Peace is a small town but holds the status of an ancient town in the history of Shaowu, serving as the political, economic, and cultural center of the Shao Nan region. As early as the first year of the Tiancheng era in the Tang Dynasty, Peace had already developed into a marketplace, known as "Old Market Street" and "Old Market Lane." In those days, Peace was a transportation hub connecting Shaowu with Southwest Fujian and Jiangxi. Moreover, the area was rich in local specialties, attracting merchants from nearby prefectures, counties, Fuzhou, and Jiangxi to trade in tea, bamboo shoots, paper, grain, and other goods. The prosperous scene of the "five-day market" was indeed spectacular, and the small town of Peace survived and thrived amidst this bustling trade fair. "Old Market Street" has flourished for over a thousand years, and the ancient stone-paved area, once a trading hub, has been preserved and continues to exist to this day. Despite the passage of time, the stone-paved lanes have become witnesses to history, spanning the north and south of the town in tranquility. Peace Ancient Town is not only a place of outstanding talent and natural beauty but also a land abundant in resources. The hardworking people of Peace have long preserved customs such as raising fish in rice paddies and planting beans along field ridges, making full use of the land and giving rise to the renowned local specialty—Peace Tofu. Due to the tradition of planting beans along field ridges, Peace produces high-quality soybeans, and its tofu is famous far and wide. The making of Peace Tofu is said to have a history of hundreds of years, with its unique production techniques passed down through generations. Many people make a living from this craft. Peace's Youjiang Tofu is particularly distinctive, with its natural and pure flavor, tender and delicious taste, making it renowned. Peace has alsoed a series of local dishes from tofu, such as eel tofu soup, fried tofu, and "yang tofu" (local dialect). Tofu is considered nourishing, and although life has grown better day by day, the simple people of Peace still eat tofu every day. However, fewer and fewer people in the town now make tofu. Many ambitious Peace residents have taken their inherited skills to explore the world, opening Peace restaurants and hosting tofu feasts. It is said that as soon as the golden signboard of Peace Tofu appears, the business is guaranteed to thrive.