In the coastal cities of southern Fujian – Quanzhou, Xiamen, and Zhangzhou – few dishes evoke as much nostalgia as the humble oyster omelette. Known locally as ô-á-tsian (蚵仔煎，海蛎煎，蚝仔煎) in the Hokkien dialect, this crispy, golden pancake of plump oysters, eggs, and sweet potato starch is a staple of street food stalls, home kitchens,…
If you ever visit Xiamen, the first snack the locals will urge you to try is tu sun dong (土笋冻). Often hailed as the number one local specialty, this translucent, jelly-like delicacy is one of the most intriguing – and, for some, intimidating – dishes in Chinese cuisine. Known as the “dark cuisine” of…
This article recounts how Taiwan returned to Qing rule. Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) expelled the Dutch in 1662 and made Taiwan an anti‑Qing base. Decades later, Emperor Kangxi sent Admiral Shi Lang, who defeated Zheng’s forces at Penghu in 1683. Zheng Keshuang surrendered, and Kangxi formally incorporated Taiwan into the Qing Empire.