Heshun "San Di Shui": The Grandest Traditional Banquet

Originating in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, "San Di Shui" (三滴水) is the highest-specification traditional banquet in Heshun, Tengchong (腾冲和顺). Listed as Baoshan City's intangible cultural heritage in 2005, this feast is deeply tied to the local history of traveling abroad for trade, historically known as "Zou Yifang" (走夷方). It has traditionally served as a grand feast to welcome returning wanderers, bid farewell to travelers, and entertain VIP guests, symbolizing a profound yearning for home and reunion.

Taking its name from the concept of "drops of water reflecting the sun" (滴水映日), the banquet is served in three distinct rounds, or "drops." The first drop features appetizers such as fresh fruits, candied treats, and pastries. The second drop offers sweet tea and a signature local snack called "Tounao" (头脑). The third drop presents the main course, known as "four plates and five bowls" (四盘五鼓), featuring premium mountain delicacies, seafood, and unique dishes like braised pork belly seasoned with Myanmar spices.

Historically prepared by skilled housewives using fine Jingdezhen porcelain (景德镇瓷器), this banquet progresses carefully from light to rich flavors. It stands as a living cultural fossil that seamlessly blends the etiquette of China's Central Plains with the culinary aesthetics of the borderlands and Southeast Asia.