【地理标志】让世界更了解山西（二十九）——怀仁羔羊肉

According to historical records, in the second year of Tang Tianyou, King Li Keyong of Jin and Khitan Yelv Abaoji met in the eastern city, exchanged robes and horses, quelled the war, and made an appointment as brother. In later generations, Huairen was named after the meaning of "cherishing kind-hearted people", and Huairen County was established during the same period. In the second year of the Jin Zhenyou reign, the county was abolished and elevated to Yunzhou. In the 33rd year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1693 AD), it was renamed as Huairen County (on August 8, 2018, Huairen was officially abolished and established as a county-level Huairen City).

According to the "Huairen County Annals", there are traces of human activities in this county that can be traced back to the Neolithic period, nearly 10000 years ago. At that time, people chose to live in water and engaged in lamb grazing and hunting.

Huairen people drink lamb offal soup and eat lamb all year round. From ancient times to the present, it has been passed down for thousands of years, especially during holidays, birthday celebrations, and building houses. People often eat for several days without getting tired of it. A pot of lamb offal has created a big industry, promoting the inheritance and development of the lamb farming industry.

Huairen City, located between 113° 10'E and 39° 52' N, is situated outside the Yanmen Pass and in the central part of the Datong Basin. It borders Datong City to the north and Shanyin to the south. The area belongs to the continental monsoon climate of the northern temperate zone, with an average annual temperature of 7.3°C, an average frost free period of about 150 days, an average annual sunshine hours of 2800 hours, and an average annual rainfall generally between 315 and 459 millimeters, mostly concentrated in July and August. The four seasons are distinct, neither cold nor hot nor damp. There is no continuous rain in summer and autumn, and there is no snow in winter. The climate is mild, and the conditions for raising lamb are very favorable.

Huairen lamb originates from the 39°N agricultural pastoral transitional zone, mainly feeding on purple alfalfa, with high protein content, 100% acid excretion, balanced fat and lean ratio, and fresh and tender meat.

Huairen has doggerel to describe the living environment of lambs: "These lambs eat Chinese herbs, drink mineral water, live in sheep villas, and excrete Rehmannia pills." This is not an exaggeration.