I’m now seated onboard Air China Flight CA 4201 departing from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to Xi’an in Xianyang – China :

Snack Time now for some Chinese Dried Bean Curds which come in 2 flavours – Mmm…….mmm it’s really authentic I’m bringing a Pack home for Mom & Dad heheh!!

Slightly more than an hour later, I arrived at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport – the largest & busiest Airport in Northwest Xi’an City in China – serving 68 Domestic Cities & 11 International Cities since opening in 1991 : 

Xi’an, the Capital of Shaanxi Province, is one of the MOST ANCIENT Cities in China – Over the course of 3100 years, 13 Dynasties built their National CAPITALS here………..

Map of Shaanxi – Xi’an the Capital of Shaanxi in China :

Xi’an was also the Starting Point of the Silk Road which was one of the MOST IMPORTANT Arteries of TRADE & CULTURE in World History!

World Famous Mysterious & Historical China Silk Road Map :

Once after we collected our Travelling Luggages, we’re met by a WARMEST WELCOME Banner greeting Singapore China Express Silk Road VIP Tour Group at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport……….Haha we immediately feel so IMPORTANT!!!

We’re soon separated into different Tour Group Teams by the China Express Chinese Tour Guides, then brought to this following Chinese Restaurant for our MOST Special Dinner on our very 1st night of our Mysterious Silk Road Tour starting here in Xi’an…………

Well, we’ll be having Xi’an Jiaozi (Dumpling) Banquet here at Hantang Era Restaurant in the Capital of Shaanxi.

Xi’an is regarded as the Home (or Birthplace) of the great Dumpling Tradition – During the Easten Han Dynasty (25-220AD), a kind Doctor named Zhang Zhongjing concocted a Mixture of Mutton, Cayenne (Pepper), & a Special Medicine which he wrapped in Ear-shaped Doughs (called Dumplings), & fed to the people suffering from Typhoid Fever & dying from Hunger & Cold. The Doctor’s fame became Legendary & the Dumpling (now typically filled with Ground Meat &/or Vegetable!) became a Favourite Addition to the Chinese Diet in China ever since!!

We’re now seated inside Hantang Era Restaurant – being served the Banquet Starter – most delicious Chinese Cold Dish Platter :

The Chinese Rice Wine has a history dating back more than 4000 years & is perhaps the oldest alcoholic beverage (made from Rice from fermentation of Rice starch converted to Sugars).

And the local Chinese likes drinking Rice Wine especially when eating Cold delicacies for warming the bodies so as to maintain good balance in health – as in Yin (from the cold delicacies) & Yang (since Rice Wine is considered warm)!

Well, here we’re being served Chinese Rice Wine as we eat the Chinese Cold Dishes – Mmm……..the Rice Wine tastes sweet with a pleasant & soothing aroma & it’s so so strong!!

Then we’ve the following really nice cool Beer!! Though I love Aussie stuffs – I’m one who’s not good at drinking beer or liquor or wine as I get rosy red cheeks all over my face & tipsy & high thereafter ahahah!!!

Now, our Xi’an Jiaozi (Dumpling) Banquet officially kicks off with a large Bamboo Steamer Basket filled with Zhen Jiao (or Steamed Dumplings) – shaped like Yuan Bao the Chinese Ingots!

Then more & more other beautifully-shaped Steamed Dumplings are brought before us - seen below in the middle is the Yuan Bao-shaped Dumpling :

WHOA look at this Chinese Mandarin Duckling-shaped Dumpling!! Hahahah it’s so cute so cute I don think I wana eat it at all!!

Geen-colored Leaf-shaped Dumplings :

Followed by more varities of Steamed Dumplings – all beautifully hand wrapped!! Amazing!!

Flower & all kinds of shapes & colors – white, yellow, green, even PINK (my favourite color!!) – By now I’ve lost count of the exact no of varities of Chinese Steamed Dumplings we’re served & have tasted hahah!!

For me personally, I enjoy taking pics of them & admiring these Chinese Culinary Arts more than actually biting into them!!

What best sauce to eat these Steamed Dumplings with!? Well that’s got to be Chinese Black Vinegar for sure!! – seen here below contained in the White saucer :

For a change, we’re now having Walnut-shaped Dumplings with sweet fillings…….hmmm…….Nice!!

Hahah how lovely – look at my plate filld with all kinds of delicately shaped Steamed Dumplings – I like the little cutie Mandarin Duck the best!!

Suddenly, we’re served Chinese Fried Rice!!! – ahahhah everybody starts laughing cos we’re already so full with tasting & eating so many different shaped Jiaozi (Dumplings) – besides of course being already full from admiring them constantly & non-stop haha!!

For our last variety of Jiaozi (Dumpling) delicacy, here’re the Jian Jiao (or dry-Fried Guo Tie) – these are sosooo yummy yummy!!!

All of a sudden, a beautiful authentic Bronze colored Hotpot (or “Huo Guo” in Chinese), filled with Hot Soup, together with a small plate of extremely Tiny Mini Dumplings, are placed on our dining table - HEY what are these huh?!?! So CURIOUS CURIOUS!!!

Without having to think or guess any further, the Hantang Era Restaurant Waitress starts narrating to us the Stories & Legends behind this Empress Cixi Hotpot (or Huo Guo)……….

It all started in 1890 when the Qing Dynasty Empress Cixi escaped to Xi’an after the Eight-Allies occupied Beijing. After having enjoyed the local Opera, Empress Cixi felt quite hungry, so her Chef made Mini Dumplings with Chicken for her, causing the Empress to be quite happy with the Meal & thereafter, these Mini Dumplings became popular!!

Well, I shall now let my following pics tell you how we enjoy our Empress Cixi Hotpot Soup with these Tiny Mini Dumplings………..

Now, let’s play the LUCK Game now as we pick our own bowl of Empress Cixi Hotpot Soup………….

Heheh pretty interesting huh!?!? My tour mates & I get all excited over how many Mini Zhu Jiao (Boiled Dumplings) each & every one of us got inside our Soup!! 

Hahah wondering what the other Significances are in the Numbers 2 to 10 (Mini Dumplings one gets from the Empress Cixi Hotpot Soup)!?!? Here’re their explanations – in English & Chinese editions :

Haha seems that all the 10 Numbers come with great great & even greater Blessings throughout!!

The above Empress Cixi Hotpot Stories & Legends are stated in these following Pamphlets/Bookmarks given by Hantang Era Restaurant - my very first special Silk Road Souvenirs :

And I’ve also got the following Bookmarks explaining the significances in getting 4 or 5 Mini Dumplings - incorporated into Chinese Idioms – 4 representing “Get Wealthy in 4 Seasons“, & 5 implying “Harvest the 5 Grains” :

Dessert time now as my tour mates & I continue sharing with one another over the Numbers of Mini Dumplings we got, & chatting happily over whether it’s really true all the good blessings will come upon us throughout this Mysterious Silk Road Trip of ours beginning right now hahah!!

GREEN Team A – Yes that’s the Tour Group Team I’m in for this Mysterious Silk Road Tour here in China - & I’m already enjoying myself so much & having so much fun & joy!!

Here comes our Xi’an Chinese Tour Guide :

Then it’s Group Photo time for our Green Team A :

We’re now leaving Hantang Era Restaurant now………… 

Mid-Autumn Festival is nearing on 6th Oct, & hey there’s a handsome Chinese Terra Cotta Warrior here among the Mooncakes display!!

Ahahah what a great sight to end our great Chinese Banquet!!

It was truely a one-of-a-kind Culinary experience for Me & I must say it was such a wonderful great Xi’an Jiaozi (Dumpling) Banquet here at the Capital of Shaanxi, yet with fascinating Stories & Legends of the Jiaozi being narrated to us while we were enjoying our Chinese Delicacies – it was simply superb!!

I would say that one has not been considered having truely visited Xi’an if one’s not had this most Special Xi’an Jiaozi (Dumpling) Banquet like I just did for my 1st Mysterious Silk Road Tour night here in China!!