1. 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 Guanzhong 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.
2. Noodles are as thick and long as belts.
Since the Guanzhong 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Local girls seldom marry outside their
hometown. The Guangzhong 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.
8. Older women are used to wearing
handkerchiefs on their heads. This custom helps ward off heavy sandstorms in the
region and is also quite decorative.