Heartwarming yet bittersweet: A taste of Northeast China's culinary delights

I don't usually go out of my way to seek must-try foods during my travels, but if I happen to come across something special, I’ll definitely give it a try. Here are a few dishes I tried for the first time during this trip: ＊Guo Bao Rou: The texture is very similar to Taiwan's sweet and sour pork. (Forgot to take a photo 😰) ＊Iron Pot Stew: Seasonal variations include stewed chicken, duck, goose, ribs, etc. This time, I tried stewed chicken and stewed ribs. ＊Frozen Pears: Autumn pears that have been frozen, with the skin turning dark brown or black. They can be eaten directly or juiced. ＊Meat and Egg Bun: Sizzling on an iron plate, the crispy and fragrant dough is filled with meat and a fried egg. The aroma is irresistible—highly recommended! ＊Cold Noodles: I visited "State-Owned Cold Noodles" on Shanghai Road in Changchun. Despite its inconspicuous storefront, it was packed with locals. The cold noodles had a sweet and tangy flavor and came in a generous portion! (Forgot to take a photo again 😅) ＊Kvass: The taste is similar to rye juice or non-carbonated beer. ＊Madier Ice Cream Bar: Available in various flavors; I chose the original flavor. It was rich in milk taste and melted easily. ＊Birch Sap: This is the "heartbreaking plain water"! It has a faint fragrance and tastes somewhat like sugar water. The "heartbreaking" part comes from its price! ＊Pine Nuts: Fresh pine cones with scales that contain pine nuts. To eat, you peel off the scales one by one and nibble on the kernels (similar to sunflower seeds). They have a subtle salty taste. ＊Yellow-Skinned Watermelon: My first time seeing a yellow-skinned watermelon—it tastes just like regular watermelon. 🤣 ＊Physalis: Known as "lantern fruit" in Taiwan, it was in season and both delicious and affordable! There are actually many foods rarely seen in Taiwan. I look forward to trying more on my next visit to Northeast China!