Dumplings, indispensable at lunar new year dinners in north China were already served 1,700 years ago in China’s far west.

　　新春佳节里，中国北方的年夜饭上必不可少的美味就是饺子。早在1700年前，中国的西部地区就已经出现了饺子。

　　According to an archaeologist from the Museum of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the three dumplings unearthed in the region’s Turpan area were determined to have been made during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties (220-589).

　　据新疆维吾尔自治区博物馆研究人员介绍，考古人员在吐鲁番地区发现了3枚饺子，通过年代测定发现其为魏晋南北朝(220-589年)时期的饺子实物。

　　Archaeologists also found two complete dumplings made during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) in Turpan. The dumplings were 5 centimeters long, 1.5 cm wide and resembled the new moon in shape. Further research revealed the dumpling wrappers were made from wheat flour and the stuffing was meat.

　　此外，考古工作者还在吐鲁番地区发现了两枚有馅的唐代(618-907年)饺子，它们长约5厘米、宽1.5厘米，形状也呈新月形。研究还发现那时的饺子面皮是用小麦粉制作的，馅为肉馅。

　　Archaeologists said the findings show the eating habits, which used to be prevalent in China’s central plains, had spread to the west at a very early time.

　　考古人员说，这些出土的饺子说明，在很早的时期，中原地区饮食习俗就已流传到西域吐鲁番地区。

　　Even in today’s China, many believe eating dumplings will bring fortune, because the food resembles "yuan bao," a boat-shaped gold ingot that was used as currency in the past.

　　即使是现在的中国，还有很多人相信吃饺子会带来好运，因为它的形状像“元宝”——在过去用作流通货币的船形的金锭。

（编辑：何莹莹）