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Just
as its name implies, Moslem Street is the hub of the Moslem community
in Xian City, Shaanxi Province. Located beside the Drum
Tower, it is about 500 meters (about 547 yards) long from south
to north. This street is paved with dark colored stone with green
trees providing heavy shade during summer; the buildings on both
sides of the street are modeled on the styles of both the Ming (1368-1644)
and the Qing Dynasties (1644-1911). Some of the constructions are
restaurants; while others are stores. But here there is one thing
in common: the owners are all Moslems.
Moslem Street has a long history. It is said that
in olden days, foreign diplomatic envoys and merchants lived here
then they married and had children, so gradually the population
increased. Today, most of the inhabitants of Moslem Street are the
descendants of those immigrants. All the Moslems here are the pious
and devout followers of Islam so they form a tight knit community,
which maintains its own culture and traditions to this day even
in such a modern society.People here are very familiar with each
other because they were companions when they were children and then
they grew to adults together and still then one after another they
got married and had their own children. As time goes on, definitely
they will become older and older or even pass by together.
Walking
along this twisted, narrow street which is aligned with stores on
both sides, you can see that Moslem men with white hats sit inside
the stores and talk leisurely with each other. In front of the doors
of some stores, old men with white beards sit on the cane chairs
enjoying the tender touch of the sun and having fun with the little
children running along the street. The main goods of these stores
are authentic hand-making Moslem food which tastes very good. While
still there are small stores selling the special local products
of Shaanxi Province and yet others provide you with exquisite souvenirs.
It is stated that once you have been to Moslem
Street, you won't feel regretted for the snacks of Xian. Yang
Rou Pao Mo is a very distinctive snack of Xian, and is extremely
delicious. Fried rice with pickled Chinese cabbage and little capsicum
is extremely savoury. And it is a real enjoyment for you to eat
it on a hot summer's day. Roast beef, mutton or lamb is another
snack that can make your mouth water. After broiling on a charcoal
fire with some flavorings on the meat, it is ready for you to enjoy.
While the most famous snack on this street is the steamed stuffed
bun of Jiasan. The main ingredients of the steamed stuffed bun here
are beef or mutton mixed with the soup decocted from the bones of
sheep or cattle.
There are also fruit pies made with persimmon here
which are considered as the unique refreshment in Xian. These pies
take the bright red, glittering and translucent persimmons from
the Lintong District of Xian City, Shaanxi Province as the basic
ingredients. When making the pies, firstly people will get rid of
the skin of the persimmons, pounding the flesh, mixing it with flour,
then putting the sweet-scented osmanthus and white sugar inside
as the stuffing, then frying them in oil until they are cooked.
When eating them, you will feel savory, sweet and soft.
There are also a great many other snacks to be
found along this street, such as preserved meat, casserole, various
noodles, and so on. They are waiting for you to enjoy.
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