Lajia archaeological site (喇家遺址) discovered in 2005 suggested noodle orginated as early as 4,000 years ago. In subsequent dynasties, wide varieties of the shapes of the noodle and the noodle making techiques have evolved. There are the rolled noodles, the hand-pulled noodles, and the knife-cut noodles. In the north, the noodle culture focuses on the making techniques,, such as oil-splashed noodles in Shaanxi and knife-cut noodles in Shanxi; in the south, the noodle culture has also inspired the making of and elaborate cooking with the pasta, such as shrimp dumplings in Guangdong and soup dumplings in Jiangsu. Noodles do not only satisfy the appetite. They also reflect the local customs. They are an important part of Chinese food culture.
