Bai Peng Lotus Root

Bai Peng Lotus Root

　　　　The cultivation of lotus root in Yanghe Village in the suburbs of Liuzhou and in Liuzhou County has a history of about 50 years. Its characteristics include upright leaves, approximately 180 cm tall, round deep green leaves, thick flesh, prominent veins, and white flowers. The mother lotus root is 80–90 cm long, typically has 4–5 sections, with a maximum of 12 sections, and weighs 1.5–2 kg, with the heaviest reaching up to 3 kg. Lotus root is rich in nutrients, high in starch, tender in texture, sweet in taste, and of excellent quality.

　　( Liuzhou )

　　 In the irrigation area of the Wuliu Reservoir in Baipeng Town, the paddy fields of five villages—Wujiu, Lituan, Huaihong, and Baipeng—stretch across 18,600 acres. The terrain is flat, water resources are abundant, and the soil is fertile, making it an ideal place for growing lotus root. The vast green lotus root production base is a spectacular sight. In the height of summer, the lotus leaves spread out as far as the eye can see, and when the breeze blows, the green waves ripple gently, creating a refreshing and delightful scene. Lotus root has become a pillar industry of the town’s rural economy. The “Jade Lotus Root” enjoys a nationwide reputation, and the green lotus root has gone abroad, being exported to Europe and America.

　　 Bai Peng lotus root is early-maturing, high-yielding, and has white skin, which is vividly referred to as “Jade Lotus Root.” The majority of this variety is cultivated without blooming or only producing a few white lotus flowers—it produces lotus roots but does not bloom. In contrast, the large expanses of red lotus flowers shown in the photo below are “ornamental lotus,” specifically grown to attract tourists, but they do not produce lotus roots.

　　Baipeng Town is the main production area of double-season lotus root in Liuzhou County. This spring, the lotus root planting area covered 18,000 acres, with an expected total spring lotus root yield of 22,000 tons. The lotus root in Baipeng Town is cultivated using green food techniques, resulting in excellent quality and uniformly attractive commercial roots, which are highly favored by dealers across the country.