Traditional tofu-making techniques power industry growth in China's Huainan

This photo taken on April 8, 2025 shows the "Chrysanthemum-shaped tofu" made by Zhang Shihong, an inheritor of the tofu banquet making skills, in Shouxian County, Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

For thousands of years, the traditional tofu-making techniques have been carried on from generation to generation in Bagongshan Township of Shouxian County. This technique in 2014 was included in the fourth batch of the national representative list of intangible cultural heritage of China.

The magic journey from soybeans to tofu includes more than ten processes, such as soybean selection, soaking, grinding, soy milk boiling and curdling.

In Huainan City, tofu can be made into hundreds of dishes, including tofu dumplings, fried Huainan tofu steak and "Chrysanthemum-shaped tofu", which requires chef to conduct cutting on a piece of tofo for over 160 times.

In 2024, the output value of the entire soybean products industry chain in the city reached 4.52 billion yuan (about 0.63 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 10.4 percent.

This photo taken on April 8, 2025 shows the tofu dumplings made by Zhang Shihong, an inheritor of the tofu banquet making skills, in Shouxian County, Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Zhang Shihong, an inheritor of the tofu banquet making skills, makes tofu dumplings in Shouxian County, Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province, April 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Zhang Shihong, an inheritor of the tofu banquet making skills, makes "Chrysanthemum-shaped tofu" in Shouxian County, Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province, April 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Hu Xuebing, a provincial intangible cultural heritage representative inheritor of the traditional tofu making skills, makes tofu at Daquan Village of Bagongshan Township in Shouxian County, Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province, Apirl 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Chefs make tofu banquet at a restaurant in Shouxian County, Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province, April 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Zhang Shihong, an inheritor of the tofu banquet making skills, makes tofu dumplings in Shouxian County, Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province, April 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Hu Xuebing, a provincial intangible cultural heritage representative inheritor of the traditional tofu making skills, shows the prepared tofu at Daquan Village of Bagongshan Township in Shouxian County, Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Hu Xuebing, a provincial intangible cultural heritage representative inheritor of the traditional tofu making skills, makes tofu at Daquan Village of Bagongshan Township in Shouxian County, Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

A drone photo taken on April 8, 2025 shows a view of Daquan Village of Bagongshan Township in Shouxian County, Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Zhang Shihong, an inheritor of the tofu banquet making skills, makes "Chrysanthemum-shaped tofu" in Shouxian County, Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province, April 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Hu Xuebing, a provincial intangible cultural heritage representative inheritor of the traditional tofu making skills, makes tofu at Daquan Village in Shouxian County, Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)