The Aroma of Tofu Waftsthroughthe Mufu Mountain

群山环抱的幕阜山里飘着豆腐香

The Aroma of Tofu Waftsthroughthe Mufu Mountain

极目新闻记者 成昱勋

Jimu News Reporter: Cheng Yuxun

通讯员 汪佳

Correspondent: Wang Jia

翻译：瞿佳慧、宋婷、卫拉（湖北大学）

Translators: Qu Jiahui, Song Ting, Lisa M. K (Hubei University)

村民们在制作豆腐  The local residents making tofu

豆制品出锅  Atofu-based foodis cooked

中山豆腐成“香饽饽”  Zhongshan tofu becomes a sensation

中山村早已成为远近闻名的“豆腐村” （摄影：极目新闻记者成昱勋）  Zhongshan village has long been known as “Tofu Village”(Photographer: Jimu News Reporter Cheng Yuxun)

豆腐营养价值高，是很多家庭餐桌上必不可少的一道美食。在咸宁崇阳县高枧乡，这里的豆腐远近闻名，香气浓郁。

Tofu, with its high nutritional value and irresistible taste, has secured its place on every familys table. In the Gaojian Town of Chongyang County, Xianning City, lies a kind of tofu that is renowned for its rich aroma,attracting visitors from far and near.

沿着湖北幕阜山旅游公路，一路寻“香”来到崇阳县高枧乡中山村，村委会旁的“富硒绿色豆制品加工厂”格外引人注目。

As we journeyed along the enchanting Mufu Mountain tourist roadin Hubei, our search for ambrosia led us to Zhongshan Village in Gaojian Town, Chongyang County. Here, the “Selenium-enrichedOrganicSoybean Products Processing Plant” beside the village committee stood out conspicuously, beckoning us with its alluring appeal.

逢年过节，这里便好不热闹，十多位工作人员忙碌地制作炸豆腐，屋内一片热气腾腾，空气中豆香、油香交杂，飘出了浓浓的“豆香”。

During festivals, a lively atmosphere always permeates here. Over a dozen staff members work fervently inside the bustling kitchen, preparing fried tofu. As the steam rises and fills the air, the savory smellsof soybeans and cooking oil intertwine, creating a mouth-watering aroma of tofuthroughout the entire room.

中山村是崇阳县有名的“豆腐村”，这里生产出来的油豆腐、干豆腐、豆油皮等豆制品，深受本地及周边区县市民的喜爱，时常供不应求。

Zhongshan village is universally known as the “Tofu Village” of Chongyang County. Soybean products here,fried tofu, dry tofu,and the skin of soybean milk,are popular among thelocals and visitors from nearby counties and cities, leading to a constant supply shortage.

小小一块豆腐，炸出“幸福生活”

Even a small piece of fried tofu can bring one a “sense of happiness”

中山村虽然偏远，也无资源禀赋，但却成为远近闻名、订单不断的“豆腐村”，这其中有何奥秘？“我们用的都是山上流下来的山泉水，水好豆腐自然香！”3月7日，豆制品加工厂负责人王学礼向极目新闻记者介绍，中山豆腐一直以来都是抢手货，订单根本接不过来，特别是过年期间，工厂24小时轮班生产，一天要生产1000多斤豆腐。

Despite its remoteness and limited resources, Zhongshan village has earned its fameas the “Tofu Village”, boasting a constant influx of orders that never ceases to stop. What is the secret behind their success? “We use nothing but the purest mountain spring water forall our soybean products, which is the key to the unique and delectable aroma of our tofu,” reveals Mr. Wang Xueli, the director of the Soybean Products Processing Plant, in an interview with JimuNews on March 7th. With the demand for Zhongshan Tofu soaring, the factory sometimes has to work around the clock,especially during the Spring Festivals, producing more than 1,000 kilograms of tofu per day to ensure a constant supply.

原来，高枧乡是崇阳县人民饮用水水源地青山水库的主要源头，地下泉水资源丰富，山泉富含人体必需的多种矿物质和微量元素硒。而用富硒泉水生产的豆腐，皆以色泽白净、口感细腻、入口滑嫩而闻名，由豆腐衍生的其他豆制品品质优良，并以其独特口感而名噪幕阜山地区。

Gaojian Townis the main source of the Qingshan Reservoir, providing clean drinking water for the people of Chongyang County,with an abundance of underground springs.And the water herecontainshigh levels of the micro-elementseleniumand multiple minerals that are essential to human beings.Also, tofu produced here is renowned for its pristine white color, silkentexture, and tender mouthfeel. Other tofu-based delicacies also enjoy good quality and a high reputationfor their exclusive taste throughout the Mufu Mountain region.

2018年，在相关部门的帮助下，中山村运用扶贫资金，建起了崇阳高枧富硒绿色豆制品加工厂，并于2019年6月正式投产。村民王学礼瞅准机会，回到村里为加工厂引进了自动化设备，使豆腐的产量和品质都得到大幅提升，不仅使自己脱了贫，还直接带动10多位贫困户就业。

With the help of government agencies, Zhongshan village utilized poverty alleviation funds to establish the Chongyang Gaojian High-Selenium OrganicSoybean Products Processing Plant, which was put into operationin June 2019. The local resident, Wang Xueli, seized the opportunity to introduce automated equipment into the plant, leading to a significant surge in both tofu production and quality. Not only did this action alleviate his poverty, but it also created employment opportunities for over ten low-income households within the village.

借着美味，中山豆腐名声远扬，渐渐地，越来越多的村民找到商机，也开起了家庭豆腐作坊。“我们这，几乎家家都会做豆腐。”村支书王局检告诉极目新闻记者，目前中山村已有100余户农户开设豆腐作坊，全乡豆腐作坊超过200家。

Zhongshan Tofus reputation spread with its delicacy and even more villagers opened a family tofu workshop. “Almost every family can make tofu,” says Wang Jujian, the village party secretary. Now, over 100 households have set up tofu workshops which inthe whole village totals to over 200.

小小一块豆腐，炸出了“小康生活”。中山豆腐俏销广东、安徽、江西、湖南、上海等地市场，目前已建成投产的中山村豆制品加工厂年收益也已超过120万元，吸纳了12户贫困人口务工，联盟带动10户年产豆制品超过10吨、年产值达到20万元以上的经营户，同时带动村民以加工、经营豆制品为脱贫致富的主打产业。

A small piece of tofu created a “well-off ” life. Zhongshan Tofu is popular in Guangdong, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Shanghai and other locations. At present, the Soybean Products Processing Plant in Zhongshan village has been put into operation and its annual income is over 1.2 million yuan, employing12 impoverished workers.It drives and collaborateswith 10 households whose annual output of soybean products has exceeded 10 tons and gross annual value has reached over 200 thousand yuan, all the while mobilizingvillagers to process and sellsoybean products as the leading industry for poverty alleviation.

舌尖美味，历史已有百余年之久

ADelicacy Boastsa History of overOne Hundred Years

高枧自古盛产豆腐，历史已有百余年之悠久，其中以中山豆腐为最佳。中山豆腐由本地黄豆搭配山泉水制作，色泽白嫩，口感细腻，特别是大湖山泉水中蕴含丰富的硒元素，使得当地豆腐不仅好吃而且养生。

Since ancient times, Gaojian Townhas been rich in tofu with a history of over 100 years, with Zhongshan Tofu as the best among them. It is made from local soybeans and mountain springs, and is white in colour and tenderin taste. Specifically, the spring water from the local lake rich in selenium,adds not only tothe tofusdelicious flavour but also to its healthbenefits.

高枧豆腐有着悠久的历史文化底蕴，相传清朝乾隆时期吏部尚书刘墉到高枧为姑母祝寿，品味高枧豆腐后留下寿匾墨宝，20世纪90年代《崇阳报》曾对这一历史文化事件进行专题追踪报道。

Gaojian Tofu has a far-reaching and deep historical culture. According to legend, in the Qianlong period of Qing Dynasty, the personnel minister Liu Yongwent to Gaojian to give his aunt birthday wishes onherbirthday. After tasting the local tofu, he left hiscalligraphyof the Chinese character “Shou”(represents birthdayblessingsand longevity)in the form of an ancientChineseplaque. In the 1990s, Chongyang Newspaper had a special follow-up report on this historical event.

中山豆腐闻名于崇阳、通城、修水等邻近县市，每年年底，中山村家家户户日夜打豆腐，慕名来买豆腐的小车排起长队，豆油皮、豆腐乳、炸豆腐、白豆腐（鲜豆腐）等各类豆腐制品供不应求。

Zhongshan Tofu is famous in Chongyang, Tongcheng, Xiushui and other surrounding counties. At the end of each lunar year, every household makestofu day and night, many people come here and queue up to purchase the tofu. Consequently, the demand for somesoybeanproducts, such as the skin of soybean milk, fermented bean curd, fried tofu, and white tofu(fresh tofu)ends up exceeding supply.

“我们家做豆腐已经有七八年了，除了自己吃，同时也卖给亲戚朋友，村里不论红白喜事，炸豆腐都是必上的一道菜。”中山村村民王宗良告诉极目新闻记者，现在儿子儿媳妇也都在学着做豆腐，传统手艺“丢不了”。

“We have been making tofu for seven toeight years. In addition to makingsome for ourselves, we also sell it to relatives and friends. Fried tofu is anessential dishat events, be it weddings or funerals” says Wang Zhongliang,a local villager. His son and daughter-in-law are learninghowto make tofu,ensuring this traditional craftsmanship will be passed down.

以前，由于藏在深山无人识，村民往往需要花几个小时的时间翻山越岭出去叫卖。如今，幕阜山旅游公路的开通，给村子带来一波又一波游客的同时，也让这里的豆腐、豆油皮、豆渣、炸豆腐真正走出大山，成为了市民餐桌上的“香饽饽”。

In the past, locatedin the remote mountains with few peopleknowingof it, locals usually spentseveral hours onfoot, hiking over hillsto sell the tofu door-to-door.Today, the Mufu Mountain tourist road is open, bringingsuccessivetravelers here, and making the local tofu, the skin of soybean milk, bean dregs and fried tofu wellknown outside the mountain and loved by non-locals.

喜看“豆腐村”，产业文章越写越长

The “Tofu Village”embracing a bright prospect

“小小的豆腐产业，在刚刚过去的脱贫攻坚中发挥了不小的威力。”高枧乡相关负责人介绍，目前，中山村全村豆腐年产值达1000多万元，一般豆腐加工户年可增收4万元，最高的年可增收10余万元。

“Although the tofu industry is not that big, it still has played a considerable contribution in the recently successful poverty alleviation campaign.” an officer of Gaojian Town introduces. At present, Zhongshan Villages annual output value of tofu reaches more than 10 million yuan. For villagers processing tofu, their annual income can increase 40,000 yuan on average and more than 100,000 at most.

融合发展一二三产业，在小豆腐上也能做出“大文章”。当地乡政府依托地域优势，于2019年3月筹资3000万元引进森禾集团，新建了中山富硒豆腐街，打造集农产品制作、吃、住、休闲旅游和田园观光为一体的豆腐文化风情街。目前，300米古街已经完工，此外还新建起2000平方米豆制品文化广场。

Integrating the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors, smallthough it might be,tofu can also developintoa big industry. Relying on the geographical advantage, the local township government built a tofu themed scenic spot named Zhongshan Selenium-rich Tofu Street, with the raised fundsof 30 million yuanand the engagement of Senhe Group in March, 2019, making it an industry chain ofagricultural product production, catering, accommodation, leisure tourism and pastoral sightseeing. Now, the 300-meter street has been completed and a2000-square-meter soybean product themed squarenewly established.

中山村豆制品，虽地处深山但声名在外，上门购买者络绎不绝。在中山富硒豆腐街，游客们不仅可以品尝富硒豆腐的风味、参与富硒豆腐的制作，还可以领略深厚的豆腐文化，享受田园牧歌式的诗意生活。同时也能带动餐饮、客运等相关产业的发展，还可以使全村老百姓实现在家门口就业，有效地激发了村民的内生动力。

The soybean products of Zhongshan village are made inthe middle of nowherebut win such a famethat many people travel far to buy them. In the tofu themed street, visitors can not only taste the flavor of selenium-rich tofu and participate in tofu making, but also appreciate the profound tofu culture and enjoy a relaxingpoetic andidylliclife. At the same time, the street can boostthe relevant cateringandtransportationindustries, and enable all villagers to make a living around their home, which effectively generatesvillagers internal motivation.

如今，豆制品生产已成为高枧农民脱贫致富、增产增收的重要支柱产业。据了解，高枧乡政府正立足当地土壤富含锌、硒等微量元素的优势，在全乡范围内着力打造万亩黄豆基地，并全力推动三产深度融合，加快建设豆腐街、积极策划豆腐戏、精心打造豆腐宴、大力举办豆腐节，不断提升产业附加值。

Nowadays, the production of soybean products has become an important pillar industry for Gaojian villagers to achieve the poverty alleviationand increase both production and income. It is said that Gaojian Town government is planning to build an approximately 10,000 mu (666.66 hectare) soybean base in the town, makingadvantage of the rich zinc, selenium and many other trace elements in the local soil. It is going topromote the deep integration of the three pillar industriesand their added values through constructing the tofu themed street, designing tofu themed plays, creating tofu themed menus, and holding tofu themed festivals.

“中山豆腐是一张名片，也是经济发展的有力抓手。”高枧乡相关负责人表示，下一步将抢抓幕阜山绿色产业带发展的重大机遇，加快推动豆腐一二三产业融合，加速推进线下线上双渠道营销，推动高枧豆腐产业上规模、优品质、创品牌、抢市场，把豆腐做成高枧的支柱产业、富民产业。

“Zhongshan Tofu is not only a trademark, but a foothold to develop the economy,” an officer of Gaojian town said. In the future, they plan to seize the opportunity of the developingthe green industrial belt of Mufu Mountain topromotethe integration of the three industries. Additionally,the dual-channel of offline and online marketingwill be employed, so as to securea larger scale, good quality, brand, and more market shares, making the tofu industry a pillarinproviding thelocalswith financial enrichment.