Dairy Foods · FFET10378
Dali rushan (milk fan cheese)
Dali’s Bai people stretch cow’s milk curd into thin fans, dry them for grilling or frying, and serve them in three-course tea.
Solid and semi-solid foods made from the milk of cattle, sheep, horses and other animals, such as butter and milk skin.
Dali rushan is a thin, fan-shaped dried dairy product made from cow’s milk by Bai people, with production areas including Dengchuan in Eryuan County, Dali, Yunnan. After an acidic liquid curdles the milk, the curd is kneaded, stretched into sheets, and spread over bamboo poles to dry. Rushan can be grilled or fried and is also used in the sweet tea of the Bai three-course tea.
What
Rushan is a dried dairy product made by Bai people in Dali. Cow’s milk is curdled with an acidic liquid, and the curd is stretched into thin, fan-shaped sheets and dried.1,4
When
Historical clues about rushan involve the Ming text Nanzhao Yeshi. A January 10, 2024 report suggests a Yuan origin based on a Ming text, but no verified original passage establishes its earliest date, and the Yuan origin remains speculative.1,2
Where
Production areas include Dengchuan in Eryuan County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan. In 2024, the area had abundant pasture and many households kept dairy cows.1,2
How
Fresh milk is warmed and mixed with a hot acidic liquid to curdle it. The method documented in 2024 uses papaya acid water; the curd is kneaded, stretched into thin sheets, spread over bamboo poles, and air-dried for 2 to 3 days. Rushan can be eaten as is, grilled, fried, boiled, or used in Bai three-course tea.1,2,4
Why
Rushan is made from curd stretched into thin sheets and dried, with milky sweetness and no sour fermented taste. In 2024, it served both as a food for guests and as an ingredient in the sweet tea of Bai three-course tea.1,2
Impact and influence
On December 3, 2025, Eryuan County had 312 dairy workshops producing more than 1,000 metric tons of rushan annually. Rushan-making techniques were included in Yunnan’s 5th batch of provincial representative intangible cultural heritage items in December 2022.3