Xinjiang Series | A shepherd's dough hat and Xinjiang's beloved nang

About this episode

This episode explores the legend of Turhong and the creation of Xinjiang's beloved flatbread, Nang.

Under the blazing sun of the Taklamakan Desert, one shepherd's clumsy mishap gave birth to a timeless treasure. In this bonus episode of "Chinese Folk Tales: Tales on a Plate", we trace the quirky legend of Turhong and his "dough hat" that turned into Xinjiang's most beloved flatbread – Nang. Crispy, golden, and steeped in tradition, Nang is more than food – it's a story shared and enjoyed across vast regions of the world.

Topics covered

• Xinjiang culture
• traditional food
• folk tales
• legends
• cooking
• flatbread

Keywords

• Xinjiang
• Nang
• Turhong
• flatbread
• Taklamakan Desert
• folk tales
• traditional food

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Nang

Places: Xinjiang, Taklamakan Desert

More episodes of Chinese Folk Tales

• The Birth of Chinese Characters: The Story of Cangjie · April 20, 2026 · 8 min
• Year of the Horse Special | The Right Strategy and the Hidden Luck · February 12, 2026 · 9 min
• Year of the Horse Special | The Noble Steed and the Toad: Lessons in Judgment and Talent · February 9, 2026 · 9 min
• Year of the Horse Special | The Silent Hero: The White Dragon Horse Part 2 · February 6, 2026 · 11 min
• Year of the Horse Special | The Silent Hero: The White Dragon Horse Part 1 · February 3, 2026 · 11 min
• Trailer | Ancient Horse Tales for the Year of the Horse · January 30, 2026 · 1 min