American Expat Savors：Lingzhi and Locally Grown Fruits at Ningbo Village

Luo Youjun is introducing lingzhi to Noah. Photo by Cai Ke

On a sunny day in early October, Noah Kartha visited a lingzhi cultivation base in Wangjiaba village of Cicheng (Jiangbei District, Ningbo) and learned about the traditional Chinese medicine of lingzhi under the invitation of Ningbo Evening News. He picked tangerines, kiwis and sampled locally grown fruits, including pitaya, pineapple, and late-maturing peach. Local cultivation technologies were further introduced in this publicity initiative to boost rural tourism and common prosperity.Noah came to China three years ago and is currently working as a guidance counselor for students at Georgia School Ningbo (GSN). He has been fascinated by Chinese traditional culture and has enjoyed interacting with local people to probe the local cuisine, customs, and history. He is also engaged in recording his encounters and experiences in China through short films and sharing them with the rest of the world.This was Noah's first trip to Cicheng town and the local lingzhi cultivation base which is spread over almost 7 hectares. Greeted by Luo Youjun (owner of the base), Noah was ushered to the surrounding cultivation gardens. As they strolled into the base, Noah was curious about a bag-packed fruit hanging on the trees. It was, according to Luo, a new species of late-maturing peach that could be harvested in October and November with a longer storage time of about one week compared to the juicy peaches harvested in summer. Noah was further shown how to pick and choose peaches of better quality: "It has a strong aroma and it's very fresh. Quite pleasant." Meanwhile, Noah tried a fresh-picked pineapple (high in Vitamin C, A, B1, and B2) and learned how to cut it carefully into slices. Gloves prevented tiny stings from the pineapple's leaves as Noah firmly held the top of the pineapple and began cutting. With fresh and fruity aroma lingering around, Noah savored this locally grown pineapple, finding its pleasant taste somehow different from the ones eaten in his hometown. "It's much fresher and juicier and didn't have that overloaded sweetness." Those lovely fruit gardens also reminded Noah of the organic-grape garden established at GSN.Along their walk, a huge black "blanket" covered greenhouse leaped out at Noah. This turned out to be a lingzhi greenhouse and those "blankets" on its roof helped to keep the temperature, as Luo revealed. It was the first time Noah got so close to the oddly-shaped plant of lingzhi. This "tree-like mushroom" is a genus of Ganoderma and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Symbolically, lingzhi represents endless life, wisdom and majesty, making it a leading figure in traditional Chinese art. In recent years, the local pharmaceutical industry has been using lingzhi in large quantities, significantly boosting the village's revenue. Lingzhi spore powder is typically used to enhance the immune system or as a prophylactic anti-inflammatory drug. According to Luo, it is supposed to be brewed with water at 50-60°C, otherwise the health efficacy might be decreased. "It has an earthy taste but not too strong. More like root vegetables." Noah had a small sip of the lingzhi drink and shared it with Luo.As part of a rural tourism initiative, the lingzhi cultivation base in Cicheng town of Ningbo has been offering visitors the pleasant hands-on experience of rural fruit planting and plucking. By growing luscious fruits and producing healthy lingzhi products, the locals enjoy an increased income and more opportunities of employment. As the director of the local rural development office – Jin Jing – summarized, the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies has led to a new eco-friendly cultivation base that prioritizes green development in increasing yields and achieving agricultural modernization.

Reporter: Mei Jie

Proofreaders: Huang Dawang, Zhang Dongjing, Jason Mowbray