Once the Dendrobium officinale seedlings are fixed onto the cliff face, their aerial roots attach to the rock surface and grow freely toward the sunlight.
It is understood that as a traditional and highly prized tonic herb, Dendrobium officinale was ranked first among the “Nine Immortal Herbs” in the Daozang (Daoist Canon) from the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, earning the nickname “life-saving immortal herb” for its miraculous therapeutic effects. However, due to overharvesting, wild Dendrobium officinale has become increasingly scarce and is now an endangered species.
Last year, Fan Zhimin, a native of Taining, founded an ecological agriculture company named after the local “Red Stone Mountain.” He told reporters that across the country, the vast majority of Dendrobium officinale is grown in greenhouses, with very little wild cultivation. Fujian has none, and Taining only began this year. Currently, greenhouse-grown Dendrobium officinale fetches around 200–300 yuan per jin (500g) at harvest, but wild-cultivated Dendrobium with branches and leaves can go for about 3,000 yuan.
“The first batch of wild-cultivated Dendrobium officinale in Taining is expected to be ready for harvest in three years. We hope to expand further in the future and help our fellow villagers achieve prosperity,” said Fan Zhimin.