Lijiang Red Beans

Lijiang Red Beans

　　Red beans symbolize longing, and throughout history, many touching stories have been told about them. The famous Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei wrote in his poem “Yearning”: “Red berries grow in southern land. / How many load in spring the trees? / Gather them till full is your hand; / They would revive fond memories.” This five-character quatrain uses the red bean to convey deep emotion, making it the most renowned “love bean.” The red bean tree is also known as the “tree of longing.” The red bean from the sea (海红豆), bright and glossy, never fades—like a heart-shaped ruby. Upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that its red hue deepens gradually from the edges toward the center, with the innermost, especially vivid part shaped like a heart. It's truly a big heart enclosing a little one, heart within heart. That’s why the sea red bean is also called the love bean and has long been regarded as a symbol and token of love and friendship.