A Bite of China brings fame to 'hollow noodles'
No instructions written down or printed, everything to do with these noodles is learnt through word of mouth. When Zhang's son comes home from school, the boy joins his parents, hanging up the noodles and letting gravity lend a hand.
When the sun rises the following morning, the yard is filled with the warm smell of wheat. And the noodles, now thin as hair, drapes under the sunlight.
"These are the traditional skills passed on within families and are facing extinction. Knowing more about them feels like paying respect to the older generations and their wisdom." said Chen Lei, Director, "A Bite of China Ii" Episode 2.
Director Chen Lei shot his episode of "A Bite of China" at the home of Zhang Shixin. Just days after the program was broadcasted on air, Zhang Shixin passed away from cancer. He had sat and watched the whole process as his family showed their skills for the cameras. His love for it, is alien to the young people from the region.
"Young people want to go to big cities and find jobs. They are not interested in learning how to make the noodles." said Zhang Shihong, Noodle Maker.
"A Bite of China" has brought sudden fame and fortune to the noodle makers. However, whether that traditional skill will stay alive, time will tell.
Related: A Bite of China 2 starts from food, ends with people
Food sells out on the Internet