Jishan fried dough twists in Yuncheng city [Photo/shanxi.gov.cn]

Famous in Shanxi, Henan and Shaanxi provinces, the Jishan fried dough twist is a traditional-flavored snack originating from Jishan county in Yuncheng city, located in the southern part of North China's Shanxi province. 

Jishan fried dough twists, with sweet and salty flavors, have a golden color -- with a crisp, oily but not greasy taste. Over a long period time, they have developed into dozens of varieties and shapes and have a shelf life as along as nine months.   

The local handmade snack, with a history dating back to the Sui Dynasty (581-618), has exquisite ingredients and a unique taste. 

Many great men and women of the past -- among them leading politician Pei Yaoqing of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and literary writer Ji Xiaolan of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) -- made great contributions to the promotion of Jishan fried dough twists, helping them to become a kind of popular snack among royal families in ancient China. 

Nowadays, Jishan fried dough twists are favored among consumers in 21 provinces and municipalities in China and are gaining more popularity in countries such as Russia, South Korea and Japan.