Whereas the water-rich south of China eats rice as its staple, the north enjoys wheat noodles more. Northern towns like Xi’an and Pingyao excel in their variety of noodles. Pingyao’s home province of Shanxi is particularly famous for Kaolaolao, a steamed buckwheat noodle eaten with various condiments, and for Daoxiaomian or knife cut noodles, a delicious beef noodle soup. Pingyao Niurou, or Pingyao Beef, is a salted stewed beef dish unique to Pingyao.