Features of Mata Lake Golden Duck Egg: Mata Lake Travel Guide

The golden duck eggs in Matu Lake are definitely a delicacy famous at home and abroad. The duck eggs here are extraordinary, both in color and taste. It has many years of production technology and high-quality egg source cultivation. Here we will give you a detailed analysis of the characteristics of Matu Lake Golden Duck Eggs, as well as a guide for visiting the Matu Lake Scenic Area.

There are roughly three methods for pickling duck eggs:

Salted in salt water, pickled in yellow mud, and pickled in spiced eggs. Various pickling methods are served either in glass jars or ceramic containers.

However, you won’t know until you go to Mata Lake that there is also a golden duck egg, which is naturally pickled in a small mud cellar without a container. Don't underestimate this golden duck egg, it was once a royal tribute.

“Since ancient times, there have been flocks of geese and ducks on Ma Tu Lake, and the golden duck eggs have long been famous.

Characteristics of Ma Lake golden duck eggs:

General Goose It feeds on clams in the lake, and the duck eggs produced are of good quality, with unique color and flavor.

After steaming, you can see that the intersection of the egg yolk and egg yolk is separated by rings of butter, like strands. The golden silk is twisted together. It tastes delicious, the egg oil is not greasy, and the meat is not choking, so it is called golden silk duck egg. "There is a generally consistent promotion content in Shandong tourism materials.

Golden duck eggs are a traditional local specialty of Zibo, produced in Qifeng Town, Huantai County. Mata Lake, known as the "Land of Fish and Rice in the North and the South", is located in Qifeng Town.

I remember traveling to Zibo five years ago. After a few days, I really felt that I had no choice but to consult the male owner of the hotel. He is in his forties and seems to be a simple and honest man.

“What good places are worth visiting in Zibo?”

At that time we had already visited the ancient streets of Zhoucun, tasted the famous Zhoucun scones, and went to Liaozhaiyuan , experienced the ghost world written by Pu Songling. After hearing this, the shop owner said helplessly: "Actually, we locals don't like to go to those places.

You can go to Mata Lake and the ancient city of Qi. The Ancient City of Qi Museum is the ruins of the capital of Qi. You can witness In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the Qi kings struggled for hegemony. Apart from this, Mata Lake is probably the most old rural land in Shandong. "

Whether the owner is lying or not, he is anyway. It comes to the heart. I like this recommendation, especially since I’m more interested in Mata Lake.

So, we quickly left the city and traveled more than 30 kilometers north to Qifeng Town, Huantai County. There is an ancient stone bridge at the head of the town, and there are more than 10 farmers' small wooden boats parked under the bridge.

There is also a small stone pavilion by the river, which enshrines some ancient figures, making people feel that Qifeng Town should have a long history. However, there is no toll booth, no scenic spot gate, no shadow of Ma Tiao Lake at all, only a winding river.

"This is the entrance to the scenic spot. You are not allowed to drive into Mata Lake. You can only take a boat. The one-way ticket price is 50 yuan and the boat journey takes more than 40 minutes."

Close The old man who paid the toll stuffed the money for the boat ticket into his arms while arranging the boatman for us. Those who pay to row the boat are all elderly people in their 60s. It is estimated that they manage fees on behalf of the town committee.

It turns out that the 50 yuan not only includes the tickets for the attractions, but also the boat fare to take us there. The price is not cheap.

The boat flows northward along this small river full of blue waves. The river is quite wide. Willows on both sides of the river hang underwater, and spacious farmyards can be seen along the river bank. Because the yard is unfenced, it has an unobstructed view.

It was just after the autumn harvest at that time, and the orange stems piled in the yard were covered with a layer of golden mats, each one shining yellow, and occasionally farmers were busy drying grain.

These scenes are reflected on the river like a mirror, forming a three-dimensional picture with rich artistic conception, symmetry up and down, and leisurely contentment. The boatman shook the wooden oar and the boat creaked. We seemed to be floating in a peaceful and beautiful paradise.

My husband is 65 years old, has a rosy complexion, is kind and honest. While paddling, he told the origin of Mata Lake. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Zibo was the capital of the State of Qi. Because there was a circus of Duke Huan of Qi in the territory, Huantai County was established. An

Knowing that Duke Huan had the ambition to become king and hegemony, and fearing that he would fall into a trap and be captured, everyone Just lead the army.

Due to heavy troop formations, many horses trampled the area into depressions, and water accumulated to form a lake after rain, hence the name "Ma Treading Lake", also known as Huicheng Lake.

Looking on the Internet, "The terrain of Huantai County is high in the south and low in the north, sloping from southwest to northeast, and is slightly wavy. Mata Lake is located at the northern foot of Taiyi Mountains, with the piedmont flood alluvial plain and the alluvial plain of the Yellow River The plains overlap and the depressions form a trough shape, forming a natural wetland." It seems that the description of Mata Lake in this story is still vivid.

On the way, the boat stopped at a beach. There is only one house on the beach, an adobe bungalow. There is a row of awnings in front of the house, and the waves are sparkling beside the awning.

The ducks flocked to the shore, some were catching fish and shrimps in the water; some were floating and fighting on the shore, flapping their wings and shouting; and others were dangling under our feet with their big bellies. go.

Take a closer look at these ducks. They are lighter in body, with smaller chests, plump hindquarters, and feathers that are heather brown with black stripes. It has a sparrow feather type similar to its ancestors, so it is commonly known as "shelduck".

It is said that they have strong foraging abilities and are suitable for living in rivers, ponds, reed fields and plains. Ducks with white and black feathers are varieties of it.

Our boatman should know this man well. As soon as the boat docked, they sat at the small wooden table under the pergola and drank tea. The tea cup is a porcelain cup from the 1980s. It has the red words "Long Live Chairman Mao" on the outside, which is very familiar.

While the boatman was drinking tea and chatting with friends, we turned around and walked into the house. The house was already full of people. "Oh, it turns out duck eggs are being sold in the house!" Because there were baskets of duck eggs piled under the wall next to the door.

The hostess of this family, who looked less than 60 years old, was squatting on the back wall, with a row of dark cellars at her feet. She reached out and touched the cellar.

The duck eggs wrapped in black mud are packed in a small carton with a handle. One box contains exactly 50 duck eggs. After the tourists paid, they lifted up the egg cartons and everyone squeezed out of the room with a smile.

It turns out that golden duck eggs can be pickled outside the house with shelduck eggs. When pickling, you don’t need glass bottles, clay pots, or plastic buckets. You need to pickle in a small brick cellar underground.

This is the first time in my life that I have seen such an original and natural method of pickling eggs.

Those duck eggs were squeezed into the thick black sand mud in the cellar. I don’t know whether the mud brought back from outside was put into the cellar, or whether the bottom of the cellar was directly connected to the bottom of the river outside the house.

It feels like those duck eggs are sleeping comfortably in the mushy river mud. They can completely breathe the breath and spirituality of nature.

“Sand mud and old-fashioned salt can be pickled in 20 days. The duck eggs pickled in this way will not deteriorate after being stored for a long time. During the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong chose the golden duck eggs here , handed over as a royal tribute."

We also walked out of the house holding our favorite "baby" and saw the owner proudly introducing the characteristics of golden duck eggs to tourists in the yard.

On the river bank, the sun is shining brightly, the willow branches are fluttering, the water is rippling, and the ducks are croaking. A man, a woman, and two teenage children were fishing on the west side of the corner of the room, one on the left and one on the right, very busy.

As the fishing rod was raised and lowered, the small fish was pulled out of the water. Before the children threw the unhooked fish into the silk bag, several ducks suddenly rushed in, grabbed the fish and swallowed it.

The two children were probably the grandchildren of this family. What a relaxing summer vacation!

This is the life of farmers by Lake Mata, which seems to be not much different from the scenes in ancient legends. "In ancient times, there were many springs in Huantai, with crisscrossed rivers and intertwined branches. Many people raised ducks by the water. Hanoi produced more screws, fish and shrimps. When the ducks ate them, they laid layers of purple-red egg yolks. Ruoqie It opens like a golden thread and has an unusual taste. For example, after being marinated for nearly a month, butter flows out along the blade when cooked. This kind of duck egg is also called wrapped duck egg. "

It is said that it was called Xiaohai in ancient times. After buying duck eggs, our boat continued to drift deeper into the lake area, with pampas grass in front and blue waves rippling beside the boat. When crossing several low bridges on the river, we quickly lowered our heads for fear of hitting the top of the bridge. It doesn't matter at all. This is all psychological.

After a while, my field of vision broadened, and Ma Tiao Lake arrived. There are lotus flowers everywhere in front of and around me, and in the distance are vast lakes and reed fields.

"Reeds block the water and there is no way, and bamboo poles knock against other villages." The boat floats in a world full of lotus flowers. At the same time, I felt refreshed and warm as spring. The boat told us the story of Yan Shu and Lu Zhonglian discussing the pros and cons of the current affairs of the Six Kingdoms by the Ma Ta Lake.

At that time, Lu Zhonglian had foreseen that the Qin State would gain power and dominate the world.

After Qin destroyed Qi, the hermits of Qi who were good at explaining grand strategies were unwilling and committed suicide by throwing themselves into the river. These stories are sad and remind people of the prosperity of King Qi's homeland.

Our boat hovered among the lotus leaves, and the green lake water overflowed and bowed to us. So, I couldn't help but pick off a large lotus leaf with dewdrops and cover it on top of my head. The fatigue of the journey and the scorching sun suddenly disappeared. Mahu Wetland is primitive and quiet. It is difficult to see such quaint scenery in Shandong.

The water source of the lake area is composed of Wuhe, Fuxiao, Dongxi Zhulong, Xinghua River and other rivers. Wujiang River was called Heishui or Wulongshui in ancient times. It got its name from its rapid water flow and black silt.

I don’t know if this is the reason why the salted golden duck egg mud is dark and oily. However, the lake here is not black, but clear lake water, lotus leaves and fields, graceful jade lotus and fish and shrimp.

The reeds are thick and prosperous in the distance, birds are flying between the sky and the water, and insects are chirping in the grass by the lake. If the sun is setting, the fishing boats are singing late night lotuses, and you are in a daze due to the cold weather, it must be a charming picture of water and sky. Although we visited before noon, we were satisfied.

Time passes very slowly here. I don’t think it is measured in hours, but in terms of the displacement of the lotus shadow on the lake.

Time is long and peaceful in Mata Lake, just like the ripples drawn by fish, shrimps, birds and dragonflies on the lake, passing by; time is beautiful in Mata Lake. As colorful as the fragrant plums and red calyx on the blue waves.

Time is full of reverie at Mata Lake. Like a reed in the distance, shake and pull, shake out dreams, and get drunk with time. If there are pure lands and holy places in the world, Mada Lake is one of them.

"The breeze blows the green willows, the clear water reflects the white lotus, the colorful fish play in the boat, and people travel in the world of picture scrolls." This is the best explanation for this northern country in the south of the Yangtze River.

At noon, we went to a farm fish shop by the lake and tasted local specialty snacks, such as "Chili Black Fish Fillet", "White Eel Soup", and "Sugar Lotus Root". Especially the "lotus root mixed with sugar" makes people feel weird.

For lotus root, we usually slice it and blanch it, or we can fry lotus root slices. I never thought locals would eat raw lotus root slices. This dish requires no cooking skills. Fresh lotus roots can be washed, sliced, plated, sprinkled with sugar and shredded ginger, and eaten.

I thought the raw lotus root slices would be astringent and hard to swallow, with an indescribable starchy taste, but I didn’t expect them to be so delicious.

The lotus root slices are cut into nine holes. The texture is delicate and round, as pure as white jade, as crispy and delicious as fragrant pears; the sticky lotus root juice can pull out rows of white silk, and the mouth is full of dirt; the food makes The mouth watered, and people suddenly understood the principle of "coupling".

This is the first time in my life that I have eaten lotus root like this. The store owner said, "White lotus root is also a specialty of Mata Lake and is the first choice for guests.

The people on the lake are the most hospitable. In the past, when guests came, strong young men would jump into the lake. Wrap the fresh lotus root in lotus leaves, wrap it in a new handkerchief, crack the shell of the lotus root with your fist, sprinkle some sugar and ginger, dig out the raw lotus root with a spoon, and finally leave a clean empty shell. "< /p>

It seems that the way we just ate it was not the most primitive.

The name of the store is Laowan Fishing and it is located by the lake.

Not far to the east, there is an exaggerated arched wooden bridge. The wooden bridge is connected to a row of winding wooden planks, and under the plank roads are patches of lotus ponds. Needless to say, there are patches of white lotus roots hanging on the underwater lotus roots.

It is said that President Nixon ate white lotus root here when he visited China in 1972, which shows how famous it is. In addition, the two dishes of fried lotus and fried mint leaves are also famous for their natural and crispy texture.

The fishing shop itself is also a small farmhouse built by the lake. The fenced corridor made of sorghum and orange poles is covered with green vines. The sun shines through the fenced corridor, casting mottled light and shadow.

Seasonal fruits and vegetables are grown in the yard, and baskets of red peppers are drying in the sun. The pepper basket is very large, a large wicker basket with a diameter of one meter, and the corner of the yard is full of gorgeous flowers. I have stayed in the city for too long, and life in the country has become farther and farther away. Everything here makes people feel that they have finally found the long-lost pastoral atmosphere.

It has been five years since I returned from that trip to Zibo, and I still have a few regrets:

First, I bought too few golden duck eggs, only 1.5 yuan each. Why did I only bring back two small boxes of 100 eggs?

Ni Pit Pickled Duck Eggs is the beginning of Taiyuan! It is the salted egg in the Northeast jar. It's very clean, but it has lost the original taste of earth.

According to my friends in Shandong, their salted duck eggs were like this when I was a kid, and they were super green and environmentally friendly. Therefore, every time I eat Northeastern porridge, my family will say: "It would be great to have those golden duck eggs!" Now, a "seven-day quick recipe for duck eggs" is popular in cities.

The method is to soak the washed duck eggs in a white wine bowl, roll them with salt foam, then wrap them layer by layer with plastic wrap, put them in a large plastic box or glass container, and put them in the refrigerator. . It can be eaten quickly after 7 days. Here, I will not comment on the advantages and disadvantages of this pickling method. Comparing the quality of golden duck eggs, they are definitely not that original because they cannot breathe soil, so they naturally lack grounding.

By the way, according to the 7-day quick method, before wrapping the duck eggs in plastic wrap, roll on a layer of five-spice, and the five-spice duck eggs will come out. If you apply a layer of yellow mud, it is the yellow mud pickling method mentioned at the beginning of this article.

Second, I didn’t buy some reed paintings. Mahu's reed weaving crafts are very distinctive. The reeds are cut, blanched, paste, moistened and framed. 80% of the entire painting is the natural color difference of natural reeds, and about 20% is ironing and carbonization. It can be called a "green art painting".

Thirdly, due to lack of preparation in advance, I did not visit the historical sites around Mata Lake. It is said that there are 18 places. For example, Dongpo Pavilion was the poetry office for Su Dongpo.

It is said that when Su Dongpo was the governor of Mizhou (today's Zhucheng), he was riding a horse on the lake. He was full of praises, so he composed a poem "Henghu Quatrains": "Looking at the green cover and red makeup, I couldn't sleep all night." Frost on the lake. Roll up the brocade and teach Ma Lian to write the autumn scenery. "In order to commemorate this outstanding poet, later generations took the words from the poem and renamed Mata Lake "Qiu Jin Lake".

In addition, Wuxian Temple is to commemorate Yan Shu during the Warring States Period. , Lu Zhonglian, Yuan Gu and Zhuge Liang in the Han Dynasty, and Su Dongpo in the Song Dynasty. On the north side of Wuxian Temple, there are Xuye Bookstore, Yuyangxuan Site, Bingshan Site, etc.

These monuments have some differences. Success story. "The golden lake is more beautiful than Xiang Lake, the pheasant tail is not as good as jade, and the history of Xie Jiangnan is like a canal." This is the scenery of Ma Tiao Lake written by Wang Yuyang, the Minister of Justice of the Qing Dynasty, who took refuge here when he was a child.

< p>Fourth, I didn’t spend one night in Qifeng Town. In fact, what I wanted to stay in most was a small farmhouse on the left bank of the river and a newly built single-family building on the right bank, surrounded by high walls.

One is to experience life in rural Shandong, and the other is to observe the design and structure of the new brick houses on the right bank. The houses on the left bank have no courtyard walls and are completely open-plan old mud-wood houses.

The other is. On the other hand, the residence on the right bank is a modern-style small building with a three-story structure.

Such a building will definitely not burn wood and carbon. It will have a pyrotechnic stove. Later, I had to commission a local friend to take pictures. I sent the photos and got a kick out of it.

The houses on the left and right sides of the river embankment are very different. Judging from the wealth and family strength, they are obviously Feng Shui Ling, with one side having a civil style and the other having a brick structure; On the one hand, it is primitive and natural, on the other hand, it is fashionable and modern. The river in the middle is the dividing line.

Of course, it can also be said that this is a typical microcosm of the modernization process extending to the countryside.

There is. Since the invention of cities, there have been fewer and fewer places where you can see original rural dwellings and experience the pastoral atmosphere.

At the same time, with the development of modern transportation and communication technology, game attractions have gradually become more popular. Eroded by commercialization, the characteristics of the famous mountains and rivers and the pastoral charm of the countryside have gradually lost their flavor.

Including the "seven-day accelerated pickling method of duck eggs" mentioned above, and in recent years, unscrupulous merchants have used it to make the egg yolks change. Red and adding Sudan red to chicken feed, isn’t it also a manifestation of the impact of commercialization on people’s lives?

So, it is possible to retain some original things as witnesses and memories of human civilization? They are more meaningful than the excessive pursuit of material luxury and commercial interests.

They are evidence of the past and a stimulus to call attention to and protect cultural heritage in the past. , when I think of the golden duck eggs naturally preserved in the sand and small cellars, I think of the small village by the Mata Lake and its original customs.

If 10 years later, the original ecology here will still be there. Without being shrouded in the aura of commercialization, the Mata Lake area will surely become a charming "pure land" and a small attraction on the tourist list.

I remember that day when we ended. Tour, leave Mata Lake by boat, and the boat is heading towards the lake area with other guests.

The place has a 1970s-80s pastoral feel. Will this be the case in a few years?

Before it is primitive enough, I really want to go to Mata Lake again and stay for one night.

The biggest advantage there is that it is very original. The disadvantage is that it is a bit dirty, but maybe dirty is a key element of originality. Clean doesn't necessarily mean beautiful, and dirty doesn't mean it has lost its original beauty.