Li Guang Apricots

Li Guang Apricots

　　Li Guang apricots can be called the king of fruits in Dunhuang. July every year is the harvest season for Li Guang apricots. They are renowned for their glossy yellow hue and juice as sweet as honey. There is also a beautiful legend about the origin of Li Guang apricots: It is said that during the Western Han Dynasty, the Flying General Li Guang led his troops on a western campaign. In the scorching summer heat, the soldiers were suffering from extreme thirst. Suddenly, a strange fragrance wafted through the air, and two colorful silk ribbons drifted down from the drifting clouds. General Li galloped after them, drew his divine arrow, and shot. One of the silk ribbons fell to the ground at the sound of the arrow, transforming into an apricot orchard laden with fruit. Everyone rushed to eat the apricots, but they tasted as bitter as coptis root. Furious, Li Guang cut down the entire orchard. The next morning, however, he found the orchard thriving again, with fresh, dewy yellow apricots that made everyone’s mouths water. Unable to resist, Li Guang picked one and took a bite—it was instantly fragrant and delightful to the core. The soldiers followed suit and found themselves revitalized. It turned out that the two silk ribbons were actually the Fairy of Sweet Apricots and the Fairy of Bitter Apricots, who had been sent by the Queen Mother of the West to aid Li Guang. Distracted by play, they angered Li Guang, who shot down the Fairy of Bitter Apricots. In the dead of night, the Fairy of Sweet Apricots found her counterpart, used her magic to graft branches of sweet apricot onto the bitter apricot stumps, and eventually produced fragrant, sweet yellow apricots. These sweet apricots, which once saved Li Guang and his army, were spread to Dunhuang along with his troops, hence the locals named them Li Guang apricots. (Dunhuang)