Crossing the Bridge Noodles - a famous specialty in Yunnan, China

Tourists enjoy Crossing the Bridge noodles in Kunming city, Yunnan province (China).

Arriving in Kunming City, Yunnan Province, introduced by the locals, we followed the entrance from the Dou Nan Flower Market building to the 5th floor to enjoy the famous Crossing the Bridge Noodles at Shang Yun Duan Restaurant. Crossing the Bridge Noodles has a history of hundreds of years, associated with the story of a wife who devoted herself to taking care of her husband who was studying hard. According to an old story, outside of Mengzi City, in the south of Yunnan Province, there was a lake with a small island in the middle of the lake. A poor farming couple loved each other very much. The husband went to the island to play and saw how beautiful it was, so he decided to stay and study hard, waiting for the day to go to the capital to take the imperial examination. The wife often made her husband's favorite noodle dish and brought it to the island for him. But because the journey was long, the diligent student forgot to eat, and the bowl of noodles often got cold.

Seeing her husband studying hard, the wife came up with the idea of preparing very hot broth, adding a layer of chicken fat floating on top to keep it hot. Other ingredients such as vermicelli, meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, spices, etc. were arranged in separate portions. When eating, the husband just needed to put the ingredients into the bowl of hot broth one by one. Thanks to the heat of the broth, the ingredients gradually cooked. The scholar studied hard to pass the exam, not forgetting the care of his virtuous wife. The good news spread far and wide, people in the area competed to ask for the recipe for the vermicelli dish to help the young man study hard and become successful. The name "bun qua cau" was born from that, famous to this day.

According to the manager of Shang Yun Duan restaurant, it can be said that the best way to eat cross-bridge noodles in Yunnan is because Yunnan is famous for its mushrooms. Nowadays, cross-bridge noodles are considered one of the specialties of Yunnan province, China. Not only do locals love cross-bridge noodles, but tourists also enjoy this unique dish every time they come to Yunnan. To have a broth that is shimmering with golden fat but not greasy, the chefs have to work very hard to simmer old chicken for 5-6 hours.

We were no exception as we eagerly awaited to enjoy this dish. When the bowls of noodles were served, the first impression was the bowl of broth contained in a large ceramic bowl like a hot pot, the side dishes and spices were rich and attractive. Each small plate of meat, fish, vegetables, mushrooms, eggs, spices and the bowl of noodles were placed separately on a large tray. Each item was a little bit, carefully selected, fresh, delicious, seasonal, especially beautifully presented, colorful, the user put each item into the bowl and enjoyed.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Tue, a tourist from Bac Ninh province, shared: "The vermicelli dish has a rich, hot flavor, the sweetness of the broth, the softness of the rice noodles, and the characteristic aroma of the meat and vegetables. The interesting thing is that even though it takes a few minutes to put the ingredients in and wait for it to cook, the bowl of broth still retains the heat to cook the ingredients. A bowl of vermicelli costs 40 - 50 yuan (about 120,000 - 160,000 VND). Being outside in the cold weather and slurping a bowl of hot vermicelli is truly satisfying."

Nowadays, not only in China but also in many places around the world, Crossing the Bridge Noodles have been added to the menu to serve diners who love Chinese cuisine. If you have the opportunity to visit Yunnan, you should try this famous noodle dish once to fully experience the traditional flavor and unique culinary culture of China.

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Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/276/199042/Bun-qua-cau-dac-san-nuc-tieng-o-Van-Nam,-Trung-Quoc.htm