Wild vegetables, yecai, are rich in sugar, fat, protein, carotenoid, vitamins, minerals, and fiber that the human body needs, with high nutritional value. Due to abundant ecological resources, fertile soil, and warm climate throughout the year, Rucheng County boasts abundant and diversified wild vegetables, such as ferns, bamboo shoots, Chinese toon sprouts, mugwort, and shepherd’s purse. For example, there are various types of bamboo shoots, including Nan bamboo shoots, small bamboo shoots, bitter bamboo shoots, and sweet bamboo shoots. 

 

At noon, the Hongfulou Restaurant was bustling with people. “Rucheng wild vegetables are delicious and a beautiful gift from nature,” said a tourist from Shaoguan, Guangdong, who visited such attractions as the Lianxi Academy with his family. 

 

“Wild vegetables in spring is fresh and healthy, which is very popular among tourists,” said He Liangju. As a traditional old restaurant that has been operating for many years, Hongfulou Restaurant has opened six branches locally and in Guangdong. They have been committed to the development of new dishes and the improvement of taste.

 

In addition to local specialty dishes integrating local cultural and tourism elements, they have also created more than 10 specials such as stir fried bamboo shoots with cured pork and ridge ferns, and made pastry snacks such as ciba with mugwort and fern root powder.

 

 

 

“Natural wild vegetables have become greatly popular, especially the Chinese toon sprouts, which is a must-eat,” said He Liangju. 

 

The catering association and the subsidiary food industry association was established to bring together multiple forces and highlight regional characteristics, folk customs, green and healthy concepts. A series of characteristic dishes have been created and launched based on local special products such as wild vegetables, red cluster peppers, and small yellow ginger. Besides, a group of catering enterprises have been cultivated to promote the sustained development of the catering consumption economy.

 

Wild vegetables are also made into a dazzling array of cultural and tourism products through drying, mixing, and precision processing.

 

Reshui Town in Rucheng County, which is surrounded by mountains, has rich hot springs, attracting a multitude of visitors. The Yifeng local specialty store on Banbian Street was bustling with people.

 

Fan Yifeng, the owner of the store, said, “Dried products such as ferns, bamboo shoots, wild mushrooms, and wild fungus, and processed products such as ciba with mugwort and fern root powder sell good both online and offline.”

 

 

As a well-known hot spring tourism destination, Reshui Town in Rucheng County has the largest hot spring cluster in Hunan Province. It is known as the “first hot spring in South China” due to its high water temperature, large flow, good water quality, and wide area. It also boasts abundant ecological resources and magnificent natural scenery, making it a natural treasure place for wild vegetables. Fan Yifeng has achieved an annual turnover of over 6 million yuan, with wild vegetables and specialty products accounting for more than 30%.

 

Now, Rucheng wild vegetables have become an industry to help villagers increase income. “All restaurants in the county have dishes made with wild vegetables, and nearly half of the subsidiary food shops also sell processed wild vegetables. With the vigorous development of the cultural and tourism industry, wild vegetables will become more and more popular,” said He Liangju. 

 

Chinese source: hunantoday