新疆塔城地区沙湾市以大盘鸡美食闻名，该特色菜肴起源于四十多年前312国道边的小饭馆，因盘子大而得名，后经过路司机的口口相传逐步火遍全国[1]。如今沙湾已拥有千余家以大盘鸡为主菜的店铺[1]，大盘鸡烹饪技艺更被列为自治区级非物质文化遗产[1]。
沙湾不仅因美食吸引游客，其旅游资源也颇为丰富。沙湾温泉水温达53摄氏度，日出水量3000余立方米，富含30多种矿物质[1]；2024年沙湾温泉旅游度假区被确定为自治区级旅游度假区[1]。鹿角湾景区总面积1.9万多公顷，为游客提供优美的自然风光[1]。从地理位置看，沙湾东距乌鲁木齐185公里，从乌鲁木齐出发两小时内即可抵达[1]，便利的交通条件使其成为集美食、文化、旅游于一体的目的地。著名作家刘亮程出生于沙湾[1]。
Shawan City in Xinjiang's Tacheng region has emerged as a premier culinary and tourism destination, anchored by its signature dish da pan ji (grand platter chicken). [1] The dish originated over forty years ago in a small roadside restaurant along National Highway 312 and gained its name from the large platter on which it is served. [1] Through word-of-mouth recommendations among truck drivers, da pan ji eventually became renowned across the country. [1]
Today, Shawan boasts more than one thousand establishments serving da pan ji as their main offering, while the cooking technique behind the dish has been designated as an autonomous region-level intangible cultural heritage. [1] Beyond its culinary fame, Shawan offers diverse attractions including the Lujiao Bay scenic area, which spans over 19,000 hectares, and natural hot springs with water temperatures reaching 53 degrees Celsius and a daily flow exceeding 3,000 cubic meters enriched with more than thirty mineral types. [1] In 2024, the Shawan Hot Spring Resort was officially designated as an autonomous region-level tourism resort. [1] Located 185 kilometers east of Urumqi, Shawan is accessible within two hours from the regional capital, making it an easily reachable destination that combines gastronomy, cultural heritage, and natural attractions. [1]