A man tastes beef from Pingyao county at a shopping festival on Jan 6 in Taiyuan. Pingyao beef, which has been popular since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), is noted for its rosy color and tender taste. Its traditional processing techniques were recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008. [Photo/sxrb.com]

Residents buy vegetables at a shopping festival on Jan 6 in Taiyuan. Organic farm produce exhibited at the fair proved particularly popular with shoppers.The fair, hosted by China Taiyuan Coal Transaction Center and Beijing Hualian Hypermarket Co will last until Jan 22. The 17-day fair aims to offer Shanxi residents high-quality goods and set up a platform to facilitate trade among consumers, dealers and manufacturers. [Photo/sxrb.com]