Qinghe Yuan (清和元)

Qinghe Yuan (清和元) is a casual Shanxi and Hui Muslim restaurant in the old city of Yingze District, Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province in northern China. Visitors are advised to search 清和元 in a map app such as Amap for the exact branch pin. The restaurant is best known for tounao (头脑), a hearty, medicinal-style soup that is a signature breakfast of Taiyuan. The dish combines mutton, lotus root and Chinese yam in a thick broth, and is traditionally eaten with pieces of bread or flatbread dipped in the soup; it is especially associated with the colder months and is often eaten for warmth. Other signature dishes on the menu include shaomai, the open-topped steamed dumplings common in Shanxi, and fried flatbread. Because the menu draws on Hui Muslim cooking, the food is halal in character and centred on mutton rather than pork, which also makes the restaurant a useful option for Muslim travellers. The dining room is simple and communal, with a quick turnover of local diners at breakfast and a steaming-bowl atmosphere; noise is moderate and dress is casual. Beverages are limited to tea and soft drinks, and there is no alcohol programme of note. Prices are at the budget end, with a bowl of tounao and a side typically costing roughly 20 to 40 yuan per person. Listed hours are daily from about 06:30 to 14:00 for breakfast service, which should be verified, since the kitchen is primarily a morning operation. No reservations are taken; the restaurant is walk-in only, and visitors should arrive early, ideally before 09:00, to find the full menu available and to avoid the late-morning crowd. As a taste of old Taiyuan, a visit pairs well with a morning walk through the surrounding old streets.