Anyang was one of the 10 most popular red tourism destinations of the first half of this year, according to a report by online travel agency Trip.com Group.

In the 1960s the local people of Linzhou spent a decade building the 71-km-long Red Flag Canal across the steep Taihang Mountains to tame the drought that had plagued them for centuries. Members of the Communist Party of China were in the vanguard.

The canal has become a well-known red tourism scenic area for visitors seeking the spirit of Party predecessors and wishing to enjoy natural beauty.

One of the must-try local snacks in Anyang is bian fen cai, referring to sweet potato starch noodles stewed with tofu, coagulated pig's blood and vegetables in a huge iron pan. The secret of its tastiness is the soup stock that is lovingly stewed for several hours beforehand.

The seller ladles the delicious food into bowels, and the diner can use garlic sauce and spicy paprika to add flavor.

A bowel of the food costs 6 yuan (93 cents) and 1.5 yuan will get you a portion of delicious thin pancakes, with soy milk a free extra. In the streets of Anyang, eateries that sell the special starch noodles are ubiquitous.

Contact the writer at xulin@chinadaily.com.cn