King Fig Scenic Area

　　The King Fig Scenic Area is located in an orchard behind the government office of Layi’ka Township, Hotan County, 22 kilometers from downtown Hotan. Figs are small trees, known in Uyghur as "Anjir." Their flowers are hidden inside the receptacle, making them hard to detect, hence they are also called the "mysterious fruit." Locals refer to them as the "fruit of longevity and prosperity." The tree yields over 20,000 fruits annually, which can be enjoyed fresh from June to October. The fruits are large, tender, and bright yellow in color. Not only are they sweet and refreshing with an unforgettable taste, but they also have health benefits such as strengthening the body, boosting the brain, and promoting longevity. They are hailed as the "heavenly fruit" by people. The King Fig has endured over 500 years of history. Such an ancient yet exceptionally large and vigorous shrub is rare not only in Xinjiang but also across the whole country. Despite its age, the ancient King Fig shows no signs of aging. It remains lush and fruitful with three harvests per year. Its canopy resembles a huge and uniquely shaped green mushroom, covering an area of 0.1 hectares. The surrounding new branches intertwine and sprawl outward in all directions, as if dancing dragons or emerging silver snakes. The ancient fig tree has a long history and a beautiful legend: It is said that long ago, in Yutian, there was a farmer named Aizezi Ahong who married a beautiful wife. The couple loved each other and lived happily, but their only regret was that they remained childless for many years despite trying various medical treatments without success. One day, he met an old man who was deeply moved by his story and gave him a staff bestowed by the Queen Mother of the West. The old man instructed him to plant the staff in his yard and to water it once each season with holy water from the headwaters of the Kaidu River, using thirty-three gourds. Aizezi Ahong followed the instructions carefully. Three years later, one day, the divine staff sprouted tender buds. The next day, it grew lush branches and leaves, and on the third day, it bore fruits without even flowering. Aizezi Ahong joyfully ate the fruits, and the following year, he was blessed with a son. Scientific research shows that figs have extensive nutritional and medicinal value. They contain little to no fat or cholesterol, are extremely high in mineral content, and rank first among fruits in terms of edible fiber. Soluble dietary fiber is known to help control blood sugar and lower blood cholesterol, aid in the prevention of heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, and also contribute significantly to weight loss, indicating broad market potential. In recent years, with the support of national poverty alleviation policies, Layi’ka Township has seen a new wave of enthusiasm for fig cultivation, yielding good economic returns. Currently, the township’s fig planting area has reached 1,100 mu, with each fig tree generating an income of 300 yuan. When processed into jam or dried fruit, the market prospects become even more promising. This has become another highlight for increasing farmers' income in Layi’ka Township. During spring, summer, and autumn, the scenic area attracts a continuous stream of domestic and international tourists, making it one of Hotan’s important cultural and tourism attractions. The site is equipped with complete infrastructure, including a four-star-standard restroom, and enjoys a beautiful surrounding environment. It serves as an ideal destination for summer retreats, cooling off, and sightseeing. Being close to the county town and easily accessible, the site holds high tourism value.

　　Twisting and turning, sprawling across the ground and stretching in all directions like dancing dragons or serpents emerging from caves. The ancient fig tree has a long history and a beautiful legend: It is said that long ago in Yutian, there was a farmer named Aizezi Ahong who married a beautiful wife in his early years. The couple loved each other and lived a happy life, but their only regret was that they remained childless after many years of marriage. He sought medical help everywhere but to no avail. One day, he met an old man who was deeply moved by his story and gave him a staff bestowed by the Queen Mother of the West, instructing him to plant it in his courtyard and to water it three times a year—spring, summer, and autumn—with holy water from the source of the Kaidu River, each time using thirty-three gourds. Aizezi Ahong followed the old man’s instructions meticulously. Three years later, one day, the divine staff sprouted tender buds; the next day, it was covered in lush branches and leaves; and by the third day, it bore fruit without even flowering. Overjoyed, Aizezi Ahong ate the fruit, and the following year, he was blessed with a precious son.

　　Scientific research shows that figs have extensive nutritional and medicinal value. They contain little to no fat or cholesterol, are extremely rich in minerals, and have the highest dietary fiber content among fruits. Soluble dietary fiber is known to help regulate blood sugar, lower blood cholesterol, prevent heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers, and also has significant weight-loss effects, indicating broad market potential.

　　In recent years, with the support of national poverty alleviation policies, Layiqa Township has seen a new wave of enthusiasm for fig cultivation, achieving excellent economic results. Currently, the township’s fig planting area has reached 1,100 mu, with each fig tree generating an income of 300 yuan. When processed into jam or dried fruit, the market prospects become even broader, making it another highlight for increasing farmers’ incomes in Layiqa Township.

　　During spring, summer, and autumn, the site attracts a continuous stream of domestic and international tourists, making it one of the important cultural and tourism attractions in Hotan. The scenic area has complete infrastructure, including a four-star-rated restroom, and boasts a beautiful surrounding environment, making it an ideal destination for summer retreats, cooling off, and sightseeing. The site is close to the county town and enjoys convenient transportation, offering high tourism value.

　　Address: Layi’ka Township, Hotan County