When the annual "fatten up for autumn" season arrives, Tan sheep in Yanchi County, Ningxia, enter their peak sales season. Many travelers journey from far and wide to Yanchi just to taste authentic Ningxia Tan lamb.

Tan sheep are a Ningxia specialty. Those raised in Yanchi are prized for their delicious flavor, tender, smooth-textured meat, mild gamey aroma and evenly distributed fat. Walk through Yanchi, and nearly every restaurant sign features the character for "sheep." Hand-grabbed lamb, lamb hot pot, bowl-steamed lamb—visitors can enjoy a feast of fresh lamb here.

Ningxia Tan Sheep (Image: CCTV Finance WeChat account)

Hand-Grabbed Lamb

This Ningxia specialty is usually made with bone-in meat from young castrated lambs, cut into strips or chunks. It gets its name from the custom of eating it with your hands. The knife work is precise: all sinew, bone fragments, and the like must be removed, and the pieces sliced to a uniform thickness. The vinegar served for dipping is essential, helping bring out the lamb's delicious flavor.

Hand-Grabbed Lamb 

Lamb Hot Pot

Lamb hot pot features slices from several parts of the animal, including the neck, back, ribs, and front and hind legs. Each cut has a distinct texture: neck meat is neither too fatty nor too lean, and is fragrant and delicious; back meat has no protruding bones and is rich with the aroma of fat; ribs are tender, juicy and flavorful; and leg meat is firm and satisfyingly chewy.

Ningxia Lamb Hot Pot 

Stir-Fried Lamb

This traditional dish is made with Ningxia Tan lamb, celery, glass noodles, red chili and other ingredients. Quickly stir-fried, the lamb is fragrant and tender—a warming, nourishing dish for autumn and winter.

Stir-Fried Lamb

Beyond lamb dishes, Yanchi County also offers a range of Tan sheep-themed cultural products, including traditional Chinese-style vests and Tan sheep plush toys. After enjoying a Tan sheep feast, visitors can take home a variety of souvenirs.

Tan Sheep Creative Merchandise (Image: CCTV Finance WeChat account)