Breakfast Food of Local Style in Hubu Alley
With a history of 400 years, Hubu Alley, located on Ziyou Road in Wuchang, is well-known for a variety of breakfast foods with distinctive Wuhan style. At present, there are over 30 different kinds of breakfast foods and snacks such as hot braised noodles of Mrs. Shi’s style, fish noodles in fresh and thick soup of Ms. Xu’s style, mianwo (round and thin fried dough with a crispy center) of Xie’s style, gruel of Gao’s style, spicy beef noodles of Chen’s style, rice wine of Wan’s style, wonton of Wang’s style, doupi (three delicacy stuffed skin of bean milk) of He’s style, steamed dumplings in soup stewed in an earthen jar of Mapo’s style, pancake of Li’s style, steamed twisted rolls stuffed with dried meat floss of Gu’s style, deep-fried dough cake of Lü’s style, sponge cakes of Wu’s style, attractive beef noodles, fellow- villager snacks, rice flour and noodles of Li’s style, shaomei (a steamed dumpling with dough gathered at the top) and mianwo of Chen’s style and fried bun of little Wen’s style. The alley is less than four meters wide and around 150 meters long.
In order to attract more kinds of breakfast foods to enhance the characteristics of the alley’s Wuhan style, authorities of Zhonghua Road invested over 400,000 yuan to rebuild the alley in its original state and create a tourist route of cultural features. With a new look, Hubu Alley reopened its business on September 18, 2003.
At the entrance of the rebuilt Hubu Alley, you’ll find words carved in a doggerel reading, “Rice is main ingredient for Han style breakfast, while quick, hot and fresh breakfast are served in Hubu Alley” written by the famous master in quyi (Chinese folk art forms). Walking further, you’ll see a black granite wall explaining how to make hot braised noodles, mianwo and other kinds of Han style breakfast. Under the new ceiling, there are many vendors wearing small hats and green clothes with a sign of a bowl of steaming hot soup on the chest. The town gate and archway of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties’ style together with Xiangshengduizhan, one of the most ancient buildings there, witness a long history of trade and business. At the entrance of the other side of the alley, there stand two stone lions on which are carved the title, “number one alley for Han style breakfast” by the reputable calligrapher Chen Yijing.
Hubu Alley, hidden in the hustle and bustle of the city, is an old musical note with the rhythm of the city. Once the note is played, it makes the sleepy Wuhan begin to revive and become full of vitality.
Instruction: Take buses of No. 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 43, 515, 521, 529, 530, 576, 578, 539, 717, 514, 542, 554, 573, 607 or 804 to Zhonghualu station and then arrive at Hubu Alley.
Source: english.wh.gov.cn
Editor: Xu Xinlei
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