The Guanzhong Plain (also known as Central Shannxi Plain) has played a vital role in the development of Chinese history. The capitals of most prosperous dynasties in China like the Qin (221-206BC), Han (206BC-220AD) and Tang (618-907) were all based there.

Over half of the population of Shaanxi Province is concentrated on the Guanzhong Plain, which accounts for only 26.94 percent of the total land area due to natural environment, geography and economic development. Some special local cultures and customs were gradually formed in the long development process. Some of the ten oddities of local customs are as follows:

1. Older women are used to wearing handkerchiefs on their heads. Much cotton is produced in the Guanzhong Plain and people used to make handkerchiefs form the cotton and dyed then black (to show respect). This custom helps ward off heavy sandstorms, strong sunshine, or rain in the region and is also quite decorative.

2. Traditional houses in the region are usually built so distinctly that they look like only half of the regular Chinese residential dwellings. Common Chinese houses usually have herringbone housetops but, in the rural area of the Guan Hong Plain, the roofs resemble only half of the herringbone housetops. It appears as if the houses have been split down the middle into two halves.

3. Noodles are as thick and long as belts. Since the Guan Hong Plain is teeming with wheat, flour is therefore the staple food, and noodles are very popular. Noodles here are prepared for longer and are thicker than usual; sometimes, even one noodle strip could fill up a bowl. After enjoying the special local cuisine, people would not get hungry easily due to the hard labor work.

4. Guokui, a kind of local hard wheat cake, is as big as the lid of a cooking pot. When it is made, the wheat flour is mixed with a minimal amount of water and then baked over a low flame for easy storage. It is a handy snack to take out because it contains very little moisture.

According to legend there were many artisans working on the Qianling Mausoleum in the Tang Dynasty and it took them a long time to finish dinner. The big cake, Guokui, was cooked make dinnertime more efficient. Guokui is cut into pieces when served and does not sour even after several days.

5. Fried capsicum is regarded as a dish rather than a condiment. Since the Guanzhong Plain is located in Northwest China with few vegetables available in the winter, local farmers used to eat fried capsicum at every meal. People enjoyed this dish because they believed it could help keep out the cold. Gradually, eating fried capsicum became a local delicacy.

6. Steamed bread soaked in soup is sold in huge bowl. As the Guanzhong Plain has a long cold winter, people need to eat some food with hot soup to warm themselves. Thus came the steamed bread soaked in soup with different varieties, such as steamed bread in beef soup, steamed bread in mutton soup, or steamed bread in pork soup.

The soup is heated and the steamed bread has fully absorbed the soup flavor, making it delicious and irresistible. Hence, people tend to meet a lot. To meet customers' need, the restaurants choose big porcelain bowl made in Yaozhou to serve people. That's also how it gets the name "steamed bread soaked in soup is sold in huge bowl."

7. The bowl and basin are indistinguishable. Local people prefer to eat with white porcelain bowl made in Yaozhou, which is approximately 1/3 meter big. They call it "old bowl", which is even bigger than some small basins and that's why the saying goes "The bowl and basin are indistinguishable here". Local people like the "old bowl " because they labor a lot during the days and need to eat much and it's much easier to use the "old bowl" once than to use a small bowl many times to have meals.

8.Performers roar when performing traditional Qin Opera. Qin Opera is known to be very jubilant and exhausting, especially for the male character with the darkish, painted face. This actually reflects the bold and unconstrained characteristics of the local people.

9. Local girls seldom marry outside their hometown. The Guanzhong Plain is one of the most fertile lands in China, so very few people are willing to go to an alien land to make a living.

10. Local people prefer to squat rather than sit. Since the Guanzhong Plain has a shortage of wood, there are few wooden chairs or stools available in the countryside. As a result, people are not used to sitting and have developed a habit of squatting at meals and when chatting with others, etc.

(ChinaCulture.org August 8, 2005)