Ningxia culture goes to the world, and Huang Hefu is the "hometown of five treasures" in Ningxia.

Ningxia culture goes to the world, and Huang Hefu is the "hometown of five treasures" in Ningxia.

There are many kinds of native products in Ningxia, and it is difficult to count them one by one, among which the most famous is "Five Treasures". That is, Lycium barbarum, which is well-known at home and abroad and can strengthen the body; Xizhen Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, known as "Huang Yi Lao Guo"; Helan stone with a slightly dark purple color; Charming and brightly colored beach sheepskin; Nostoc flagelliforme is a delicious treasure symbolizing good luck and smoothness. According to different colors, they are also called red envelopes, yellow treasures, sapphires, Bai Bao and panthers. Five treasures have a long history and a long reputation in Ningxia, and Ningxia is also famous for its rich five treasures.

"The medicine tree in the monk's room depends on the cold well, and the well has a fragrant spring tree with a spirit. Cui Dai left a gabion, and Yin Hongzi matured into a bronze vase. Branches are fairy sticks, roots are new and old. Top grade functional nectar flavor, but also know that a spoonful can prolong life. " This is a poem by Liu Yuxi, a famous poet in the Tang Dynasty. It is about Lycium barbarum, praising the function of Lycium barbarum and summarizing the color, shape and taste of Lycium barbarum. Lycium barbarum is a deciduous shrub with tufted stems and short thorns. Its leaves are egg-shaped and lanceolate, two to five centimeters long. It bears fruit in spring and matures in autumn. Ningxia Lycium barbarum was originally a wild plant growing in Zhongning County. After the selection and improvement of the working people in the Hui-Han period, it gradually went down in history as an artificially cultivated crop. According to the Records of Hongzhi Ningxia in the Ming Dynasty, Lycium barbarum was cultivated in Ningxia at that time, and its tree age was more than 480 years.

Ningxia's wolfberry products rank first in the country. After careful cultivation by the working people in Ningxia, the quality has been continuously improved, which is deeply loved by people all over the world. According to Compendium of Materia Medica, Lycium barbarum has the function of nourishing and treating asthenia. People who eat Lycium barbarum often "turn white and black, and their teeth become stronger when they fall off." Modern scientific analysis has proved that Lycium barbarum fruit contains saccharin, carotene, riboflavin, vitamin C and other nutrients. Ningxia Lycium barbarum is famous for its unique natural and geographical conditions. Ningxia is located in the northwest plateau of the motherland, with long sunshine time, large temperature difference between day and night and crisp and fertile soil, which is very suitable for the growth of Lycium barbarum. In addition, the attention paid by laborers in past dynasties to cultivation techniques has made Ningxia Lycium barbarum products popular for a long time. During the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty, Ningxia Lycium barbarum was listed as a "tribute fruit". In autumn, in the mature season of Lycium barbarum, the Lycium barbarum trees are covered with spindle-shaped Lycium barbarum, all of which are shiny, red, exquisite and attractive. Now Lycium barbarum has entered the homes of ordinary people as a high-grade tonic.

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch is called "Lao Guo" in traditional Chinese medicine. "Compendium of Materia Medica" said: "Among all the medicines, licorice is king, treating 72 kinds of milk stone poison, solving 1,200 kinds of plant poison and harmonizing all the medicines." This shows how important the role of licorice is. The rhizome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch is used as medicine, which is flat in nature and sweet in taste, and has the functions of benefiting qi, regulating the middle energizer, purging fire and detoxifying, strengthening tendons and bones, and is mainly used for treating spleen and stomach weakness, cough with excessive phlegm and sore throat. In recent years, some scholars have found that licorice can also play an anti-tumor, central inhibition, blood pressure and other roles. Ningxia has always been the hometown of licorice, especially in Yanchi, Tongxin, Lingwu and other places with the best quality and more output. In summer, pink and purple licorice flowers can be seen from time to time in the shallow grass green area of Ningxia wilderness. In late autumn, the pods and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch are thick and upright, shaped like a cylinder, with a diameter of three or four centimeters, a size of about five or six centimeters, and generally more than one meter long. At this time, it is the season to harvest licorice. There are some drugs made of licorice in Ningxia, such as "licorice paste" and "licorice cream", which have remarkable curative effect and are selling well.

Helan stone comes from the beautiful Helan Mountain with a strange peak. On the misty rock wall of Helan Mountain, you can see some crystal-clear strange stones. They are like purple clouds falling on the Qifeng Mountain, which is the famous Helan Stone in ancient and modern times. Helan stone is exquisite in texture, elegant and shiny, with purple and green matching each other and bright in color. Some Helan stones also have some natural stone patterns, such as jade belts and clouds. The crystal feels greasy. Helan stone is a good material for carving inkstone. Combining rigidity with softness can be carved. He Lanyan made of Helan stone has the advantages of inking, ink storage, hair care and durability. The Helan inkstone technology in Ningxia has a long history of 1000 years. The Helan inkstone carved by the artist is simple and elegant, beautiful in shape and unique, and has long been loved by calligraphers of all ages. Since the reform and opening up, there have been some new varieties of Helan stone carvings. The traditional flat-cut Helan inkstone developed into relief, then from relief to hollowing out, and even three-dimensional carving. The carved pattern is unique, with unique conception and simple style. Sculpture has developed from inkstone to large vertical screen, with green mountains and green waters, bridges and pavilions, Yunlong soaring, flowers, birds, insects and fish, historical figures and so on. In composition, they have different shapes and colorful colors. Helan stone carving works not only enjoy high reputation in the domestic market, but also are widely welcomed in the international market.

Tan sheep is a kind of white sheep with long fat tail and rough fur. Before the end of Qing Dynasty, Ningxia Tan sheep was called "White Sheep" and its hair was "Xikou Hair". Because this kind of "white sheep" is very famous for its skin and meat, foreign businessmen often come to Ningxia to buy it. Even if these "white sheep" graze in droves on the grass beach at the eastern and western foothills of Helan Mountain, merchants who buy sheepskins often stamp the processed white sheepskins with the seal of "Tan Sheep". Slowly, the name of "Tan Sheep" spread. The most famous beach sheep in Ningxia is lamb skin, commonly known as "Ermao". The original meaning of "Ermao" is "gray hair", while "Ermao" borrows the meaning of "white". Tan sheep was born about 30 days ago, and the sheepskin became "Ermao" after slaughter and fine processing. Ermao's hair is fine, white as snow and shiny as jade, and its spikes naturally bend, and some bend as much as nine bends, so it is also known as "nine bends". If you gently shake the processed two kinds of fur, the slender white hairs of the fiber will swing like waves, and the fluff will be soft and fluffy with good elasticity. Men's and women's winter clothes made of Tan sheep's wool are comfortable to wear, soft and warm, and elegant in appearance. If two kinds of fur are used to decorate the edge of high-end clothes, it will be particularly elegant and chic, and it will have a strong fashion effect. Tan sheep's fur is not only the best among furs, but also has uniform meat and fat, delicate texture and delicious taste. Beach mutton is not only a traditional meat food for people of all ethnic groups in China, but also exported to Arab countries. After careful cooking, whether steamed or braised, the delicious meat quality of beach mutton obtained from two kinds of fur can be comparable to that of chicken. There are many areas producing tan sheep in Ningxia, especially Ermao along Helan Mountain in northern Yinchuan.

Nostoc flagelliforme is an algae plant, named after its color is like a woman's hair. Ningxia Nostoc flagelliforme is rich in nutrition, and its protein content is more than 20%, which is higher than chicken, milk and eggs. It also contains calcium, phosphorus, iron, fat and vitamins. Chinese medicine believes that Nostoc flagelliforme can help digestion, relieve indigestion, clear stomach and lower blood pressure, and can also help treat hypertension, gynecological diseases, nosebleeds and other diseases. After the operation, if the patient eats Nostoc flagelliforme, it can also accelerate the healing of the wound. Nostoc flagelliforme produced in Ningxia is black in color, long and flexible in silk and excellent in texture. They are mainly distributed in Lingwu, Zhongning, Tongxin and Yanchi counties. It grows in a very harsh environment and is very difficult to collect. Only after the spring rain can it be found in the flat desert with dew. Nostoc flagelliforme is an indispensable delicacy for a holiday feast. It is suitable for both cold and hot, especially for cooking soup. Ningxia Nostoc flagelliforme is one of the traditional native products exported from China, which was exported to foreign countries as early as the Tang and Song Dynasties. The homonym of Nostoc flagelliforme is "making a fortune". Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macao take Nostoc flagelliforme as luck, because they often give Nostoc flagelliforme to each other as gifts during festivals or when visiting relatives and friends.

"Five Treasures" is a special product that people of all ethnic groups in Ningxia are proud of. They have made commendable contributions in the historical process of Ningxia's development, thanks to their good weather and geographical conditions and their diligence.