Lianzhou Polygonatum

Lianzhou Polygonatum

　　【Polygonatum】 Tourists visiting Lianzhou often like to purchase the local specialty, Polygonatum. Most of Guangdong’s Polygonatum is produced in Lianzhou City. It has the effects of invigorating qi and nourishing blood, dispelling wind and removing dampness. Regular consumption can promote longevity and improve complexion, making it an excellent health product for families.

　　 Polygonatum is commonly known as “mountain ginger” and was called “yellow ganoderma” in ancient times, meaning it was considered a “miraculous cure” akin to ganoderma. It is also referred to as “famine relief herb,” a name originating from the Tang Dynasty. The literary figure Liu Yuxi, when serving as the prefect of Lianzhou, loved eating Polygonatum. He once remarked, “Polygonatum is sweet, delicious, and easy to eat. In times of famine, it can replace grain for both the old and the young.” Since then, Polygonatum has also been called the “famine relief herb.” It has another elegant name, “immortal’s food.” Legend has it that in ancient times, a girl ran away from home in anger after her parents forced her into marriage. Years later, when villagers went up the mountain to chop wood and encountered her, they tried to persuade her to return home, but she politely refused. She then leapt effortlessly across cliffs and ridges, moving as if she were a fairy ascending to the sky. Later, people discovered that the food stored in the cave where she lived was actually Polygonatum.

　　 Nowadays, Lianzhou produces 25 tons of Polygonatum annually, which is processed through nine steaming and nine sun-drying cycles to create the final product. In recent years, various Polygonatum products have been successfully developed. Among them, Polygonatum glutinous rice wine won the Excellent Award for New Products in Guangdong’s Four New Categories. In 1993, it was officially designated as a “Guangdong Provincial Famous Product.” Today, Polygonatum glutinous rice wine has become a sought-after souvenir for tourists to give to family and friends.