A beef noodle master pulls a bowl of noodles at a Lanzhou beef noodle restaurant. [Photo by Yang Yanmin/For China Daily]
LANZHOU -- Overlooking the majestic Yellow River from atop a 60-story skyscraper, 26-year-old Liu Jiajia and her friends eagerly relished Lanzhou beef noodles at a stylish restaurant in Lanzhou, capital of Northwest China's Gansu province, pairing the time-honored local delicacy with a distinctly modern experience.
Tracing back to the "hot pot noodle" stalls in 1915, a bowl of Lanzhou beef noodles has often been the first meal locals share with friends visiting the city, with its aroma a signature of the street snacks and popular lifestyles.
Today, however, enjoying that bowl of noodles has taken on an entirely new atmosphere. Fueled by technological innovations and optimized management models, the century-old dish is rapidly appealing to younger consumers and expanding into overseas markets, bringing authentic Chinese flavors to diners around the world.
Tao Li, manager of the restaurant where Liu and her friends dined, said Lanzhou beef noodles are becoming a must-order specialty, attracting nearly 400 customers per day and generating about 40,000 yuan ($5,846) in daily revenue during peak seasons.
