Datong instant boiled mutton [Photo/shanxi.gov.cn]

Surrounded by mountains, Datong is situated in northern Shanxi province and is adjacent to Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The city is famous for its high quality mutton.

Datong's instant boiled mutton has a long history dating back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). For a long period of time, the dish was a delicacy reserved for officials and celebrities.

The dish first started to become popular among ordinary people in the 1980s. At that time, the main tool used for boiling the mutton was a copper hot pot. The mutton was usually accompanied by cabbage, tofu, and vermicelli, with sesame sauce used as a garnish.

With the introduction and integration of North and South China's cuisines into Datong, the city's instant boiled mutton has seen great changes in the ingredients used for its soup, vegetables, garnishes and seasonings.