Lai Feng Bayberries

Lai Feng Bayberries

　　Lai Feng bayberries are a rare and precious fruit from the Wuling Mountain region, considered a delicacy among fruits. The berries ripen in mid to late June, are medium to large in size (weighing about 12 grams), round in shape, and range in color from light purplish-red to deep purple-black. Their flesh is tender, sweet and tangy with abundant juice, and they have small seeds. They are of premium quality, rich in nutrients, and have an excellent flavor. Coming as they do during the off-season for most fresh fruits, they are especially favored by consumers. The trees have lush, verdant canopies, graceful forms, and remain evergreen all year round, making them an excellent species for landscaping. There are 108 ancient bayberry trees over 100 years old in the county, with individual yields reaching up to 1,000 kilograms or more.

　　Huangbai Village in Sanhu Township, Lai Feng County, known as the “No. 1 Bayberry Township in Hubei,” is located 26 kilometers along the Lai-Xian Road. It is famed for its ancient village, ancient roads, ancient bayberry trees, ancient courtyards, ancient temples, ancient opera stages, as well as Huangbai (a local herb) and tribute rice. It is 130 kilometers from Enshi City and 200 kilometers from Zhangjiajie. Provincial Highway Lizi runs through the area, providing very convenient transportation. The village has a history of bayberry cultivation spanning over a thousand years, and its planting area and annual yield account for over 90% of the total in Hubei Province. It is the only pollution-free green industry bayberry production base in the Wuling Mountains.

　　The unique climate and soil conditions of Sanhu Township, combined with thousands of years of cultivation experience and government guidance, have resulted in 14,000 mu of bayberry plantations, with over 9,000 mu now in their prime fruit-bearing period. In 2005, bayberries were sold for 40 yuan per kilogram, and even by 2010, those from Sanhu were still fetching 30 yuan per kilogram. This is mainly because the bayberry varieties introduced in Sanhu are sweeter than those from their place of origin, with a slight tartness, vibrant color, large fruit size, consistently strong market demand, high visibility, and consistently high sales prices in recent years.