Tong’s Cured Mutton in Xi’an is known for its freshly red color special taste and softness .
Legend has it that in 1900 when the Eight- Power Allied Forces invaded Beijing , Empress Dowager Ci Xi fled to Xi’an with Emperor Guang Xu . One day Ci Xi passed the Western Street in her imperial carriage . While climbing the slope, she caught a strong armomatic smell. The provincial governor told her that the scent came from a restaurant selling mutton and beef . It was called the Tong’s after the name of the owner . Ci Xi felt salivating at the thought , so she stopped to have a try . After tasting she sang high praise of he meat . The official then sent for Xing Tingwei , tutor of the Minister of Military Department Zhao Fuqiao , and had him write on a wooden board “Nian Zhipo”, which means the slope was where the imperial carriage once stopped . The board still bears to the eyes today the golden inscription . Ever since then the great fame of the restaurant spread all over this ancient capital city .