Zhangjiajie specialty: Cliff fungus

Cliff fungus, also known as stone fungus, grows on the cliffs in Zhangjiajie. They are the mosses that cover rocks and are leaf-shaped. They are gray or yellowish-brown on the back and are abundant in nutrition. They boast special functions such as diminishing inflammation and facilitating invigoration. Cliff fungus can be taken as both food and drugs. According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, "cliff fungus nourishes the essence of life".

Cliff fungus is a delicacy of Zhangjiajie and has become the first-rate dish for local residents and for state banquets. Since it is hard to acquire, cliff fungus is a treasure even in the eyes of the monks who live in seclusion for ages. When they happen to have some cliff fungus, they will preserve them and give them to their temple members, friends and relatives.

Cliff fungus must be eaten in a particular way. First, dried cliff fungus needs to be put in warm water, 30-70 C, for seven to eight hours. When they extend, cliff fungus is rubbed in rice-washing water gently to wash out sand and dust. After the water is filtered, cliff fungus is made edible.

It is delicious to stew chicken soup with cliff fungus. However, do not to stew chicken meat and cliff fungus at the same time, the chicken must be stewed prior to the addition of fungus. It is also a top grade dish to stew cliff fungus with pork ribs or pig's feet, in the same way as with chicken. Tourists may feast their eyes on the landscapes of Zhangjiajie and try cliff fungus chicken soup.