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Blondie In China takes a food-focused autumn trip to Jilin City in Dongbei. The Songhua River remains unfrozen in cold weather because of a nearby hydroelectric plant, creating Rime Frost on the banks, a phenomenon most common in January. Breakfast includes Jianfen soup and Jitang Tofu Chuan, followed by a visit to the Jilin Meteorite Museum, which holds fragments from the world's largest meteorite fall in 1976, including a 1,700-kilo piece. The traveler tries Lengmian cold noodles despite the season, visits a pastry shop with more than 300 years of family history, and finishes with barbecue that becomes hot pot with sauerkraut and noodles.
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The Songhua River and Rime Frost
Blondie In China travels to Jilin City for an autumn day trip as the seasons shift toward winter. The city shares its name with Jilin Province, and the source connects the name with a Manchu phrase meaning “along the river.” The Songhua River remains unfrozen in sub-zero temperatures because of a nearby hydroelectric plant. When warm river water meets cold air, it can create Rime Frost on trees along the banks. The phenomenon is most common in January, but the traveler visits during a season when there is already a sudden snowfall and ladybugs are still visible.
Breakfast, meteorites and cold noodles
Breakfast starts with Jitang Tofu Chuan, soft tofu skewers served with savory, sweet, garlic and chili sauces and fresh herbs. Jianfen follows: a hearty soup of fried starch jelly in sesame-garlic broth. The group visits the Jilin Meteorite Museum, which has fragments from the world's largest meteorite fall in 1976, including a piece weighing 1,700 kilos. Lunch brings Lengmian, cold noodles served with toppings and a sweet, tangy sesame broth. Although the weather is cold, the dish is satisfying, and the strong indoor heating in Dongbei homes and public spaces makes chilled food easier to enjoy.
Pastries and barbecue hot pot
The traveler finds a handmade pastry shop with more than 300 years of family history. Its pastries are affordable, and she takes them to Beishan Park for a picnic. Dinner is a multi-stage barbecue that turns into hot pot. The meal begins with grilled beef seasoned with cumin; sauerkraut is then added to make a broth, followed by noodles and vegetables. Dipping sauces accompany the meal. The traveler describes the sauerkraut's caramelized flavor and connects fermented cabbage with Dongbei's history of preserving vegetables for long, cold winters when fresh produce was scarce. The episode concludes by looking ahead to a future series in Chengdu and Chongqing. The changing weather is part of the day's timing: autumn colors and ladybugs are visible before a sudden snowfall signals the approach of winter. Jilin City shares its name with the province, and the source connects its name to a Manchu phrase meaning 'along the river.' The hydroelectric plant helps keep the Songhua River from freezing, creating conditions for Rime Frost when the warm water meets cold air. The frost is most common in January, so this autumn visit offers a different view of the river than a peak-season trip.
At Da Leng Mian, Blondie has mixed expectations about eating cold noodles in the cold season, but finds the sweet and tangy sesame broth satisfying. Strong indoor heating helps explain why chilled food is still enjoyable in Dongbei. She carries the handmade pastries from the family-run shop to Beishan Park for a picnic before the evening meal. The barbecue turns into hot pot in stages, with cumin-seasoned beef followed by sauerkraut broth, noodles and vegetables. The traveler links preserved cabbage with the long winters when fresh produce was scarce, then mentions upcoming travels to Chengdu and Chongqing.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What was the most surprising thing about Jilin's breakfast?
- A: The variety stood out: savory tofu skewers came with several sauces, alongside Jianfen soup made with fried starch jelly. It was a flavorful start to the day.
- Q: Are cold noodles really a thing in winter?
- A: Yes. Locals enjoy Lengmian even in cold weather. Its refreshing, tangy broth can be satisfying, especially when indoor heating makes homes and public spaces very warm.
- Q: What is the barbecue that turns into hot pot?
- A: It is a multi-stage meal: first grill meat, then add sauerkraut to make a rich broth, and finally add noodles and vegetables to turn it into hot pot. The video shows the meal changing from grilled meat to a broth that can be eaten with the later ingredients.
- Q: What's special about the pastries?
- A: The shop has more than 300 years of family history. Its pastries are handmade and affordable, which makes the stop distinctive. The traveler highlights the shop’s long family history as well as the handmade pastries and their low price.
- Q: What was memorable about the Jilin trip?
- A: The Rime Frost along the Songhua River, the barbecue-hot pot and the historic pastry shop all stand out in the traveler’s account of Jilin. The river scenery and the meal are different parts of the day, while both help explain what made this stop memorable for her.
