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Xi'an Food Tour: Mutton Soup & Terracotta Army

Shocking Chinese Street Food - JACUZZI SOUP in Xi’an, China!!

Destination:ChinaCity:Xi'anPopulation: 13 million
Shocking Chinese Street Food - JACUZZI SOUP in Xi’an, China!!
Mark Wiens34 min

Shocking Chinese Street Food - JACUZZI SOUP. This was filmed by Mark Wiens. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

Today we’re on a mission to eat the best Chinese mutton soup I’ve ever had! The restaurant is located in Weinan, about an hour outside of Xi’an, in the Shaanxi province of China. The cooking actually begins the day before, where 4 whole sheets are added to a jacuzzi sized pot, and boiled overnight within their own fat, along with Chinese cardamom, dry chilies, and Sichuan pepper. They open at 6 AM and the meat is falling off the bone tender. When they serve you, you get some of the meat chopped in your bowl, topped with Sichuan pepper oil, coriander and and handful of fresh Sichuan pepper. It’s an overdose of flavor, and the mutton will melt in your mouth.

One of China’s most important historical sites is the Terracotta Army. It was amazing to see in person, the size and scale is truly impressive, and it’s a place you can’t miss when you visit Xi’an - actually many people visit Xi’an just to visit the famous Terracotta Army.

Just a five minute drive from the Terracotta Army, Michael took us to eat one of his favorite Biang Biang Noodles. They were outstanding, you can never have enough noodles and chili oil in Xi’an, China!

--- Mark Wiens
November 9, 2024, Autumn in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

Mark Wiens travels to Weinan, about an hour outside Xi'an, for a mutton soup cooked overnight in a very large pot. The restaurant prepares the broth with four whole sheep and spices including chilies, star anise, Chinese cardamom, cloves and ginger, skimming foam as it cooks. He eats the soup with freshly baked bread and chili oil, visits the Terracotta Army and ends with long Biang Biang noodles topped with sauce and other ingredients. Mark begins at a restaurant in Weinan, about an hour from Xi'an, where the soup is cooked in an enormous pot. The preparation uses four whole sheep and a mix of spices, and the broth is skimmed as it simmers overnight. He eats the mutton with freshly baked bread and tries chili oil and Sichuan peppercorn, whose tingling quality is especially noticeable. After the soup, he visits the Terracotta Army and looks at the scale and detail of the soldiers, including differences in clothing and weapons that represent rank. The last food stop is Biang Biang noodles, made by hand and served with sauce and toppings. Mark explains how to order by noodle count and why the noodle should stay intact as it is stirred and eaten. The meal and the historical site give the video a combination of regional food and cultural history.

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Shocking Chinese Street Food - JACUZZI SOUP in Xi’an, China!!

Mutton soup in Weinan

Mark Wiens begins this food and history trip in Weinan, about an hour outside Xi'an, to try mutton soup. The restaurant uses a large pot to cook the broth overnight and starts with four whole sheep. The recipe includes chilies, star anise, Chinese cardamom, cloves and ginger. During the long cooking process, the restaurant skims off foam to keep the broth clear. Mark visits early and sees locals arriving for their bowls.

The traditional way to eat the soup is to dip fresh bread into the broth and use it to scoop up meat and organs. Chili oil is available to add more flavor. Fresh Sichuan peppercorns bring a citrusy aroma and a tingling, numbing sensation, so Mark advises trying a small amount at first. He describes the meat as tender and the soup as rich, while the restaurant's preparation shows the time and care behind the dish.

Terracotta Army and Biang Biang noodles

The trip then turns to the Terracotta Army. Mark looks at the scale and detail of the ancient soldiers and notices that their ranks are represented through differences in clothing and weapons. Crowds move through the site, which remains a major historical destination.

At the end of the tour, Mark tries Biang Biang noodles. He watches the long, wide noodles being made and explains that a serving is ordered by the number of noodles, with one or two being standard. The noodle should stay intact so its length and texture can be appreciated; stirring combines it with sauce and toppings. Mark slurps it from one end rather than biting through the full length. The dish is a final food stop after the soup and historical visit.

The video brings together local cooking and the Terracotta Army, with Mark's reactions to both the flavor and the historical site. It introduces the ingredients and preparation of mutton soup, then shows the noodles' size and texture. The route offers a view of Xi'an-area food traditions alongside a major archaeological attraction.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: What is in the mutton soup?
A: The broth uses mutton with chilies, star anise, Chinese cardamom, cloves and ginger. The restaurant cooks it for a long time and skims off foam to keep the broth clear.
Q: How is the soup traditionally eaten?
A: Freshly baked bread is dipped into the broth and used to scoop up the meat and organs. Mark also tries adding chili oil and fresh Sichuan peppercorn, whose citrusy aroma and numbing effect can be strong.
Q: What makes Biang Biang noodles distinctive?
A: The noodles are long and wide, and one or two noodles make a standard serving. The video shows them being hand-pulled, then mixed with sauce and toppings; Mark slurps them from one end to keep the noodle intact.

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Xi'an Food Tour: Mutton Soup & Terracotta Army

Today we’re on a mission to eat the best Chinese mutton soup I’ve ever had! The restaurant is located in Weinan, about an hour outside of Xi’an, in the Shaanxi province of China. The cooking actually begins the day before, where 4 whole sheets are added to a jacuzzi sized pot, and boiled overnight...

Xi'an Food Tour: Mutton Soup & Terracotta Army

Mark Wiens embarked on a culinary adventure in China, starting with a unique mutton soup experience in Weinan, a city near Xi'an. Cooked overnight in a massive pot, the tender mutton, infused with aromatic spices, was a flavor explosion. His journey then led him to the Terracotta Army, an awe-inspiring historical site near Xi'an, showcasing impressive scale and size. The adventure concluded with a delightful bowl of Biang Biang noodles, a local favorite known for its generous chili oil.

Attractions in this video: Terracotta Army