Shaobing or huoshao is a baked, layered flatbread

Flatbread

A flatbread is a simple bread made with flour, water, and salt and then thoroughly rolled into flattened dough. Many flatbreads are unleavened: made without yeast or sourdough culture: although some flatbread is made with yeast, such as pita bread....

 with or without sesame

Sesame

Sesame is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods....

 on top, in Chinese cuisine

Chinese cuisine

Chinese cuisine is any of several styles originating in the regions of China, some of which have become highly popular in other parts of the world – from Asia to the Americas, Australia, Western Europe and Southern Africa...

. They can contain a variety of stuffing which can be grouped into two main flavors: savoury or sweet. Examples of fillings are red bean paste

Red bean paste

Red bean paste or Azuki bean paste is a sweet, dark red bean paste originating from China. It is used in Chinese cuisine, Japanese confectionery, and Korean cuisine. It is prepared by boiling and mashing azuki beans and then sweetening the paste with sugar or honey...

, black sesame paste

Black sesame soup

Black sesame soup is a popular Chinese dessert that can be widely found throughout China and Hong Kong. It is generally served hot.-Preparation:...

, stir-fried mung beans with egg and tofu. There are a variety of types of shaobing, filled and unfilled. However, shaobings are not very well known in southern China unlike other northern dishes like mantou

Mantou

Mantou, often referred to as Chinese steamed bun/bread, is a kind of steamed bun originating in China. They are typically eaten as a staple in northern parts of China where wheat, rather than rice, is grown. They are made with milled wheat flour, water and leavening agents...

, baozi

Baozi

A bāozi or simply known as bao, bau, humbow, nunu, bausak, pow or pau is a type of steamed, filled bun or bread-like item in various Chinese cuisines, as there is much variation as to the fillings and the preparations...

, and youtiao, and other unique varieties of shaobing can be completely unheard of in the south. Types of shaobings are usually well known in local areas such as provinces/cities/towns. In the Mandarin cuisine tradition, shaobing are served with hot pot

Hot pot

Hot pot , less commonly Chinese fondue or steamboat, refers to several East Asian varieties of stew, consisting of a simmering metal pot of stock at the center of the dining table. While the hot pot is kept simmering, ingredients are placed into the pot and are cooked at the table...

 (huǒguō) in winter or soy milk.
Shaobing is common for breakfast and is usually eaten with soy milk and tea. Unfilled ones are usually eaten with steamed eggs or any other breakfast meat dish, and filled ones are only eaten with soy milk and tea.

Miscellaneous

Liu Ji was one of the most famous scholars of the Ming dynasty

Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...

. He presented a cryptic lyrical song titled "Shaobing Song

Shaobing song

The “Shaobing Song” or the “Pancake Poem” is a poem purported to be written by Liu Ji, also known by his courtesy name as Liu Bowen, during the Ming dynasty. He supposedly presented the poem to the Hongwu Emperor.-Prophecy:...

" (燒餅歌) to the Zhu Yuanzhang emperor. The song supposedly predicted the future of China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

.