Lantian Tribute Chrysanthemum

Lantian Tribute Chrysanthemum

　　The chrysanthemum is one of the most famous flowers in China, first recorded in ancient texts. The "Monthly Ordinances" chapter of the Book of Rites mentions, "In the month of late autumn, the chrysanthemum bears yellow blossoms." It has a cultivation history of over 3,000 years. As early as the Tang Dynasty, Chinese chrysanthemums were introduced to Japan via Korea, where they were highly cherished and referred to as "Tang flowers." After the 17th century, they spread to Europe and America, eventually becoming one of the world’s renowned and precious flowers.

　　Besides being admired for their elegant beauty, subtle fragrance, and resilient spirit in the face of frost, chrysanthemums also have medicinal uses. In our province, chrysanthemums such as Chuzhou chrysanthemum, Huangshan tribute chrysanthemum, and Bozhou chrysanthemum are all well-known medicinal varieties.

　　Chrysanthemums are slightly cold in nature, with a sweet and bitter taste. They can dispel wind and heat, reduce internal heat and toxins, clear the liver and improve vision, inhibit bacteria, and lower blood pressure. Rich in chrysanthemum glycosides, volatile oils, flavonoids, vitamins, and more, they make an excellent cooling tea during hot summer days, helping to relieve heat, clear internal fever, and soothe the liver while improving eyesight.

　　Tribute chrysanthemums are produced in Huizhou (now She County) and the Wuchuan area of Lantian in Xiuning. The flowers are white or pale yellow, with densely arranged petals (ligulate florets) and emerald green flower bases, earning them the nickname "green-stemmed chrysanthemum." Legend has it that in the late Southern Song Dynasty, Emperor Duzong Zhao Qi indulged in pleasure and neglected state affairs despite ongoing invasions from the north, leading to widespread suffering and public discontent. A palace concubine, witnessing this chaos, fled angrily and went into hiding among the common people. The inept emperor sent troops in multiple directions to search for her. One group chased to Jinzhu Ridge in She County, while another pursued into the Wuchuan area of Xiuning’s Lantian. There, they found households nestled in the high mountains of Wuchuan, all cultivating chrysanthemums, creating seas of blooming flowers. Unable to capture the concubine, the soldiers, inspired by the scenery, ordered local officials to paint various chrysanthemum illustrations to present to the imperial court as a report. Thus, the chrysanthemums of Xiuning and She County came to be known as "Huangshan Tribute Chrysanthemums."

　　Today, the tribute chrysanthemums of Xiuning’s Lantian have expanded from mountainous regions to lower slopes and farmlands. The town’s chrysanthemum cultivation area has grown from 2,000 mu in 2002 to 10,440 mu in 2007. During the blooming season, the harmony between nature and human culture becomes especially striking. From a distance, the low slopes and fields are nothing but vast seas of flowers. Being there feels like walking through an ocean of blooms, with cars seemingly driving through floral waters. Over the past two decades, as agricultural restructuring reforms advanced, Lantian’s chrysanthemums gained fame both in China and abroad for their stunning floral displays and fragrant reach. They have become a beloved destination for tourism, leisure, sightseeing, and for filmmakers and creators seeking inspiration in this vibrant “Garden of Eden.”